Pulpotomy of tempory molars : histologic analysis of pulpal reaction to glutaraldehyde and to zinc oxyde eugenol - ROS - 2003 - Tome 32 - N°4

In this study, we have assessed residual pulp condition post-pulpotomy of 30 temporary human molar teeth mildly caried and resorbed. Zinc oxyde eugenol (ZOE) was used in 15 teeth versus 2 % unbuffered glutaraldehyde for 3 minutes in access cavities for the other 15 teeth. All teeth were restored using fast-setting zinc oxyde eugenol (Caulk´s IRM) ; They were then evicted by groups of 3 at periodic time intervals. Histologic analysis revealed pulpal inflammation reaching almost one-third of the teeth in both groups. Pulpal fibrosis, combined with other reactions such as inflammation or pathologic resorption, was frequently observed, in 66.60 % of teeth treated with ZOE and 61.54 % teeth treated with glutaraldehyde. Pathologic resorption was seen in both groups at a rate of 26.67 % in ZOE and 46.15 % in Glutaraldehyde. In this study, zinc oxyde eugenol and glutaraldehyde led to similar pulpal reactions and did not seem to constitute the material of choice in pulpotomy of temporary molars within the resorption phase.