Indirect Pulp Capping versus Pulpotomy with MTA for Treatment of Primary Molars with Deep Caries: An Equivalent Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim: to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of pulpotomy versus indirect pulp capping (IPC) using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to treat deeply carious primary molars without signs or symptoms of irreversible pulpitis.Subjects and methods: A parallel-arm randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT), with a 1:1 allocation ratio, was conducted on 89 children with 100 deep-carious primary molars without signs or symptoms of irreversible pulpitis. They were between the ages of three and six. Teeth were assigned into two groups; group (I) received IPC treatment and group (II) received pulpotomy treatment, both of which used MTA. Treated teeth were finally restored with stainless steel crowns (SSCs). Follow-up was conducted for radiographic and clinical evaluation at three, six, and twelve months. Results: Following a 12-months follow-up period, both groups' clinical success rates were 100%. Radiographically, IPC group revealed no failure throughout the duration of follow up, while in the pulpotomy group, one tooth out of fifty displayed external root resorption (ERR) and periapical radiolucency after a period of 12 months. The success rates for IPC and pulpotomy were 100% and 98%, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p=0.65). Conclusion: IPC and pulpotomy with MTA can be used successfully for treatment of primary molars with deep carious lesions without signs or symptoms of irreversible pulpitis.