Are there any differences between first and second primary molar pulpectomy prognoses? A retrospective clinical study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Endodontics
• Dental Anatomy

Background:

• Primary molars are crucial for maintaining dental arch integrity and guiding permanent tooth eruption.
• Pulpectomy is a vital endodontic treatment for infected primary teeth, aiming to preserve them.
• Understanding the long-term prognosis of pulpectomy in different primary molar types is essential for effective clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the treatment outcomes and prognoses of pulpectomies performed on first versus second primary molars.
• To investigate potential differences in pulpectomy success rates between maxillary and mandibular primary molars.

Main Methods:

• A clinical study involving 55 children and 86 pulpectomy treatments on primary molars.
• Root canal filling utilized a Walkhoff formula paste (Kri-1, calcium hydroxide, meta-cresol formaldehyde).
• All procedures were performed by a single, experienced clinician to ensure consistency.

Main Results:

• A total of 7 treatment failures were recorded out of 86 pulpectomies (approximately 8.1% failure rate).
• Failures were distributed across both first (4/41) and second (3/45) primary molars.
• No statistically significant differences in prognosis were found between first and second primary molars or between arches.

Conclusions:

• The anatomical variations in primary molars do not appear to significantly impact pulpectomy success rates.
• Pulpectomy demonstrates a comparable prognosis irrespective of whether it is performed on first or second primary molars.
• These findings support the routine application of pulpectomy for both types of primary molars when indicated.