Ferric sulfate versus dilute formocresol in pulpotomized primary molars: long-term follow up

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ferric sulfate (FS) to that of dilute formocresol (DFC) as pulp dressing agents in pulpotomized primary molars. Ninety-six primary molars in 72 children were treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. Fifty-eight teeth were treated by a FS solution for 15 sec, rinsed, and covered by zinc oxide-eugenol paste (ZOE). In another 38 teeth, a cotton pellet moistened with 20% DFC was placed for 5 min, removed, and the pulp stumps were covered by ZOE paste. The teeth of both groups were sealed by a second layer of intermediate restorative material (IRM) and restored with a stainless steel crown. This is a report of the clinical and radiographic examination of 55 teeth dressed with FS and 37 teeth fixed with DFC, that have been treated 6 to 34 months previously (mean 20.5 months). Four teeth were excluded from the study due to failure of the patient to present for recall. Success rates of 92.7% for the FS, and of 83.8% for the DFC were not significantly different. Four teeth (7.2%) of the FS group and two (5.4%) of the DFC group presented internal resorption. Inter-radicular radiolucencies were observed in two teeth of the FS group and three teeth of the DFC group. The latter also presented periapical lesions. Success rates of both groups were similar to those of previous studies utilizing the traditional Buckley's formocresol.