Laser-assisted pulpotomy in primary teeth: a systematic review

ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic review was to identify high-quality articles comparing laser with conventional pulpotomy procedures, and to assess whether laser treatment may offer an appreciable benefit over conventional approaches. MethodsA systematic search was implemented for MEDLINE, WEB of SCIENCE and Cochrane's CENTRAL databases (1980-2012) to identify eligible studies. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the articles (=0.89) using specific study design-related quality assessment forms (Dutch Cochrane Collaboration). ResultsSeven articles met the inclusion criteria, of which five randomized control trials (RCT) and two case series (CS), involving Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, CO2 and 632/980nm diode lasers. Although heterogeneity between pulpotomy studies was high, odds ratios (OR) were generally <1, indicating that laser is less successful than conventional pulpotomy techniques. ConclusionGiven the paucity and high heterogeneity of high-quality articles, general recommendations for the clinical use of laser in pulpotomy in primary teeth can yet not be formulated.