Formocresols

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ferric sulfate (FS) to that of dilute formocresol (DFC) as pulp dressing agents in pulpotomized primary molars. Ninety-six primary molars in 72 children were treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. Fifty-eight teeth were treated by a FS solution for 15 sec, rinsed, and covered by zinc oxide-eugenol paste (ZOE). In another 38 teeth, a cotton pellet moistened with 20% DFC was placed for 5 min, removed, and the pulp stumps were covered by ZOE paste. The teeth of both groups were sealed by a second layer of intermediate restorative material (IRM) and restored with a stainless steel crown. This is a report of the clinical and radiographic examination of 55 teeth dressed with FS and 37 teeth fixed with DFC, that have been treated 6 to 34 months previously (mean 20.5 months). Four teeth were excluded from the study due to failure of the patient to present for recall. Success rates of 92.7% for the FS, and of 83.8% for the DFC were not significantly different. Four teeth (7.2%) of the FS group and two (5.4%) of the DFC group presented internal resorption. Inter-radicular radiolucencies were observed in two teeth of the FS group and three teeth of the DFC group. The latter also presented periapical lesions. Success rates of both groups were similar to those of previous studies utilizing the traditional Buckley's formocresol.

Abstract: Formocresol pulpotomies were performed on rhesus monkeys. The rate at which 14 C-formaldehyde appeared in samples of blood and urine was observed to determine if absorption occurs.

Abstract: Bioactive glass (BAG) is often used as a filler material for repair of dental bone defects. Although there is evidence of osteogenic potential of this material, it is not clear yet whether the material exhibits potential for dentinogenesis. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate BAG as a pulpotomy agent and to compare it with three commercially available pulpotomy agents such as formocresol (FC), ferric sulfate (FS), and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Pulpotomies were performed in 80 maxillary first molars of Sprague Dawley rats, and pulp stumps were covered with BAG, FC, FS, and MTA. Histologic analysis was performed at 2 weeks and then at 4 weeks after treatment. Experimental samples were compared with contra-lateral normal maxillary first molars. At 2 weeks, BAG showed inflammatory changes in the pulp. After 4 weeks, some samples showed normal pulp histology, with evidence of vasodilation. At 2 weeks, MTA samples showed some acute inflammatory cells around the material with evidence of macrophages in the radicular pulp. Dentine bridge formation with normal pulp histology was a consistent finding at 2 and 4 weeks with MTA. Ferric sulfate showed moderate inflammation of pulp with widespread necrosis in coronal pulp at 2 and 4 weeks. Formocresol showed zones of atrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis. Fibrosis was more extensive at 4 weeks with evidence of calcification in certain samples. Among the materials tested, MTA performed ideally as a pulpotomy agent causing dentine bridge formation while simultaneously maintaining normal pulpal histology. It appeared that BAG induced an inflammatory response at 2 weeks with resolution of inflammation at 4 weeks.