Radiographic Follow Up Examination on Vital Pulp Amputation in Primary Teeth: I. Treatment with Calcium Hydroxide paste

We conducted a radiographic follow up and discussion concerning 100 primary teeth (42 boys and 37 girls), which were random samplings from all primary teeth which had been treated by vital pulp amputation with calcium hydroxide paste (CALVITAL) during the period from January 1980 to December 1985 at Pediatric Dentistry clinic of the School of Dentistry, Hiroshima University. For the follow up examination, we used only the radiograms which were radiographically available. The results obtained were as follows: 1) At the time of final follow up examinaiton for each treated tooth, the teeth judged as being successful were 74 (74.0%) and 26 (26.0%) as being unsuccessful. We observed many teeth judged as being unsuccessfull, during the period from 24 months to 30 months after treatment. 2) In this investigation, we observed all the radiograms which had been taken at the recall after treatment, and therefore the number of cases examined was 197. According to the results at the time of each follow up examination, unsuccessful cases were few up to 24 months after treatment, but they were numerous during the period from 24 to 30 months. 3) According to the location of the treated teeth and the age at the time of treatment, abnormal findings appeared in the majority of the unsuccessful cases within 30 months after treatment. Unsuccessful cases were more numerous for the lower second deciduous molars and less for the anterior teeth. Unsuccessful cases of patients aged 4 and 5 years, when vital pulp amputation had been performed, were more numerous. 4) Of 26 teeth judged as being unsuccessful,16 showed internal root resorption,9 abnormal root resorption,18 obliteration of lamina dura and 16 alveolar bone resorption in the periapical and/or furcation areas. 5) The formation of the dentin bridge were radiographically observed 2 months later after treatment, and the number of the teeth and root canals where it was recognized, was 33 and 41, respectively.