Effect of Ferric Sulphate and Putty MTA as Pulpotomy Agent in Vital Primary Teeth

The pulp in primary teeth has a high potential for repair because of high degree of cellularity and vascularity. The rationale for the pulpotomy procedure is that the radicular pulp tissue is healthy and capable of healing after surgical amputation of the affected or the infected coronal pulp. There is ample information about pulpotomy in deciduous molars using formocresol, glutaraldehyde, electrosurgery, ferric sulphate, calcium hydroxide, MTA etc. The vital pulpotomy process using formocresol has been widely accepted in primary tooth pulp therapy because of its simplicity and good prognosis. However, much concern as arisen over the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of formaldehyde containing products, the cytotoxic effects of formocresol and the possible diffusion into the surrounding and systemic tissues. In order to avoid the possible harmful effects of formocresol; other pulpotomy agents for vital pulpotomy procedure is being sought such as ferric sulphate and MTA with promising results due to their advantages such as devitalization and regenerative agents respectively. Ferric sulphate \[Fe2(SO4)3\] as a 15.5% solution is a coagulative and local hemostatic agent. Ferric sulphate is a material with minimal devitalization and non-induction of pulp tissue. It is used as a coagulative and hemostatic retraction agent. Ferric sulfate is proposed as a pulpotomy agent on the theory that its mechanism of controlling hemorrhage might minimize the chances for inflammation. Ranly proposes the possibility that the metal-protein clot at the surface of the pulp stumps may act as a barrier to the irritative components of the sub-base which helps in minimizing the complications from the material. The hemostatic properties of ferric sulfate and the favorable pulpal response make it a promising medicament for pulpotomy. Erdem AP et al in their study observed no significant differences among 3 experimental materials MTA, Formocresol and Ferric sulphate. Fei AL et al observed