A Randomized Trial of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Cements in Primary Tooth Pulpotomies

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of primary tooth pulpotomies using two different white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cements and calcium hydroxide (CH). Methods: Primary molars (N=139) from three- to nine-year-old children were randomly assigned to be treated using either ProRoot MTA (N=46), MTA Angelus (N=45), or CH paste (N=48) as pulpotomy medicaments. All pulpotomized teeth received a Class I amalgam as a final restoration. Recall examinations were carried out at one, three, six, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results: The 24-month cumulative clinical success rates for ProRoot MTA, MTA Angelus, and CH were approximately 98 percent, 96 percent, and 77 percent, respectively. The cumulative radiographic success rates for ProRoot MTA, MTA Angelus, and CH were approximately 98 percent, 91 percent, and 45 percent, respectively. For all parameters evaluated, the MTA cements showed similar clinical and radiographic outcomes (P >.05), which were significantly better than those of CH (P <.05). The two-year clinical and radiographic survival probabilities for ProRoot MTA and MTA Angelus were comparable (P=.62 and P=.20, respectively) and superior to calcium hydroxide (all P >.05). Conclusions: ProRoot MTA and MTA Angelus showed similar and favorable success rates as pulpotomy materials in primary molars.