Evaluation of Formocresol and CTZ Antibiotic Paste in Primary Teeth Pulpotomies The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Volume 43, Number 1/2019 doi 10.17796/1053-4625-43.1.4 1 Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Formocresol and Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline and Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Antibiotic Paste in Primary Teeth Pulpotomies: 24 month follow up Jesús Luengo-Fereira* / Sergio Ayala-Jiménez** / Luz Elena Carlos-Medrano*** / Iovanna Toscano-García**** / Minerva Anaya-Álvarez***** Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate clinically and radiographically the effectiveness of formocresol and the antibiotic paste CTZ (chloramphenicol, tetracycline and zinc oxide-eugenol) in primary teeth pulpotomies, during a 6, 12 and 24 month period. Study design: A total of 80 pulpotomies were performed in 58 patients between three and six years of age. The patients were selected and assigned to two groups: Group I Formocresol (FC, n=40), Group II chloramphenicol-tetracycline-zinc oxide eugenol (CTZ, n=40). The teeth were restored with glass ionomer and pre-formed stainless steel crowns. The treated teeth were evaluated clinically and radiographically at 6, 12 and 24 months. Results: After 24 months of follow up a 100% and 94.3% clinical success was obtained, in the CTZ and formocresol groups respectively (x 2 = 0.450, p>0.05). The radiographic success was of 97.4% and 94.3% respectively (x 2 = 0.920, p>0.05). Conclusion: The performance of the antibiotic paste CTZ was superior to formocresol. No statistically significant differences were observed between the treatment groups either clinically or radiographically. More randomized clinical trials should be performed before it can be indicated safely. Keywords: Primary molars, pulpotomy, formocresol, antibiotic paste. * Jesus Luengo-Fereira DDS, PhD, Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry Postgraduate Program. School of Dentistry, Zacatecas Autonomous University, Mexico. ** Sergio Ayala-Jimenez DDS, Masters in Dental Sciences Postgraduate Student, Postgraduate Program, School of Dentistry, Juarez University of Durango State, Mexico *** Luz Elena Carlos-Medrano DDS, MS, Associate Professor, Pedi- atric Dentistry Postgraduate Program. School of Dentistry, Zacatecas Autonomous University, Mexico. **** Iovanna Toscano-Garcia DDS, MS, Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry Postgraduate Program. School of Dentistry, Zacatecas Autonomous University, Mexico. ***** Minerva Anaya-Alvarez DDS, MS, Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry Postgraduate Program. School of Dentistry, Zacatecas Autonomous University, Mexico. Send all correspondence to: Jesús Alberto Luengo Fereira. Programa de Especialidad en Odontopediatría, Unidad Académica de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ). Carretera a la Bufa S/N, Colonia Centro Zacatecas, C.P. 98000; Zacatecas, México. Phone: +52-492-9229650. Email: jluengo@uaz.edu.mx INTRODUCTION O ne of the main goals of pediatric dentistry is to maintain adequate anatomical and functional conditions of the primary dentition until its physiologic exfoliation. This is fundamental to avoid changes in mastication, speech and phonetics, as well as to maintain the length of the dental arch, esthetics and prevention of oral habits. For this reason, all available resources must be used to avoid premature loss. 1,2 The prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition is still high in the pediatric population, even though efforts and advances in the promotion of oral health have been made. 3 This situation increases the possibility of pulpal affectation, exposing the tissue to oral microbiota, taking the pulp to an irreversible state, and the necessity to perform a pulpal treatment. 4,5 Currently, different tech- niques and protocols for pulp treatment of primary teeth, depending on the extension of the damage and pathological involvement of the pulp are available. 1,6 The pulpotomy is the main therapeutic alterna- tive indicated for the treatment of primary teeth with vital, reversible coronal pulpal inflammation, when there is no evidence of radicular signs or symptoms of pulp degeneration. 7 This procedure is founded in the fact that after surgical amputation of the infected coronal pulp, the radicular pulp tissue stays in a healthy state, favoring the exis- tence of a natural environment for the normal development of the succedaneous tooth. 8,9