Success rate of calcium hydroxide pulpotomy in primary molars restored with amalgam and stainless steel crowns

Key Points Success rates were found to be higher in teeth restored with stainless steel crowns than in teeth restored with amalgam. Amalgam is a suitable alternative to a stainless steel crown only for teeth with mechanically exposed pulp. Pulpotomy success rates are higher in teeth with pinpoint carious exposure. Under the conditions of this study, restoration failure did not appear to affect treatment prognosis. Objectives To compare the success rate of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2 ) pulpotomies in primary molars restored with a stainless steel crown (SSC) to that of teeth restored with amalgam and to evaluate the role of restoration failure in treatment outcome. Study design Pulpotomies were performed in 154 primary molars. Teeth were grouped according to pulpal exposure type as either mechanically or cariously exposed, with cariously exposed teeth further divided according to size of exposure site (pinpoint or larger than pinpoint). Seventy teeth were restored with amalgam and 84 with a SSC. Teeth were followed up for 12 months. Results Pulpotomy success rates were 79.9% for teeth restored with a SSC and 60% for those restored with amalgam. The difference between these rates was statistically significant (p