A comparative evaluation of formocresol and sodium hypochlorite as agents for pulpotomy in primary molars: A pilot study

Aim: This in vivo study was carried out to assess the clinical and radiographic evaluation of pulpotomy in primary molars, following the use of formocresol (FC) versus sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 5%. Materials and Methods: In the present study, pulpotomies were conducted on sixty primary molars of 5–8-year-old children who referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. The selected teeth were equally distributed and randomly assigned into two groups of FC and NaOCl 5%. After taking the initial radiographs, standard pulpotomy was carried out using FC and NaOCl 5%; pulp chamber was filled with intermediate restorative material and restored with stainless steel crown cemented with glass ionomer cement. Results: The control (FC) and experimental (NaOCl 5%) groups demonstrated 96.3% clinical success at 3 and 6 months. The NaOCl group had 88.9% radiographic success at 3 months and 88.4% at 6 months. The FC group had 76.9% and 72% radiographic success at 3 and 6 months, respectively. No significant differences were found in clinical and radiological outcomes between two groups at 3 and 6 months (Pearson's test, Fishers exact test; P = 0.02 and P = 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, NaOCl demonstrated clinical and radiological success comparable to FC.