Clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate and ferric sulphate pulpotomies performed by dental students

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic findings of ferric sulphate (FS) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as vital pulpotomy materials in primary molars. Materials and methods Participants, including 40 boys and 53 girls ranging between 5 and 10 years of age (mean age 7.7 years), were selected from the patient population at the University of Gazi Department of Paediatric Dentistry The children were healthy and cooperative, with at least 1 symptom-free restorable and vital primary molar with deep carious lesions. The pulpotomies were performed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students. Members of the senior staff at the clinics supervised all of the procedures. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 1-, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month recall. The data were statistically analysed with chi-squared tests followed by a multiple comparison test. Results The follow-up evaluations revealed that the clinical success rates were 84.7% for FS and 94.7% MTA. The radiographic success rates were 78.2 % for FS and 92.1 % for MTA. No significant difference was found between the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the two groups at all follow-ups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The most common radiographic failure was internal resorption in both types of pulpotomies. Both MTA and FS can be suggested as an appropriate medicament for primary teeth pulpotomies.