Formocresol and Calcium Hydroxide Therapy

A survey of the dental literature revealed various methods of treating carious exposures of dental pulps and maintaining them in a healthy condition. Many of these studies were empirical, and little histologic evidence was presented in evaluating the results.1-14 In recent years, two clinical techniques have been recommended for the management of carious pulp exposures in primary teeth of children. After coronal pulpotomy, one technique makes use of a formalin-containing compound which apparently devitalizes the pulp and produces a degree of pulp fixation,15-17 whereas the other technique involves the use of a calcium hydroxide pulp dressing which reportedly maintains the vitality of the remaining pulp.18 Presently, there is insufficient evidence from clinical and laboratory research to justify recommending one technique over the other. The major objective of this study was to attempt to duplicate, in monkeys, these two clinical procedures on primary and young permanent teeth and to note the differences, if any, in the reactions of the pulp and periapical tissues of these teeth to formocresol and calcium hydroxide therapy after varying time intervals. The pulp responses to the dressing materials were determined microscopically, using serial sections through the pulps of extracted teeth, as well as through quadrants of jaws sectioned en bloc.