[Evaluation of the long-term curative effect of pulp mummification]

Fifty--three teeth with pulpitis treated by pulp mummification and followed--up for fifteen years were examined. Of them, excellent result was achieved in 11 teeth (20.75%), good in 8 teeth (15.10%) and failure in 34 teeth (64.15%). Radiologically, 8 good cases were characterized by badly delineated periodontal ligament, increased periodontal ligament space in width, indistinct lamina dura and/or local increase in the density of bone; 34 failure cases were characterized by the radiolucent area or small lesion around apex with clear radiopaque line on the circumference of the area or local increase in the density of bone. These radiographs showed that chronic inflammations existed in periapex. Although further investigations are needed to identify the reasons leading to chronic inflammations, the results should be considered seriously when pulp mummification is upon selection.