Aim: The present study was conducted to compare effects of biodentine and formocresol as pulp-dressing agents clinically, radiographically and histopatholically in primary teeth.
Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy children aged from four to eight years, they were selected from patients attending outpatient clinic of Pediatric Dentistry Department. Each child had at least bilateral deep carious lower primary molar indicated for pulpotomy. Pulpotomy was done in both groups; where group I treated by biodentine while formocresol used in group II. The study cases were recalled after three, six, nine and twelve months for clinical and radiographic evaluation. For histopathological study sixteen lower primary first molars planned for serial extraction were selected, biodentine and formocresol pulpotomies were done, extraction of the treated teeth from each group was done after one and three-month intervals.
Results: the overall clinical success rate of biodentine group was 90%, while formocresol group was 80%. The two groups were clinically successful with no statistically significant difference between them (P= 0.278). The radiographic success rate of biodentine group was 86.6%, while for formocresol group was 73.3%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.197). Biodentine showed significantly better histopathological results compared to formacresol after three-month interval. Biodentine favored the formation of partial dentine bridge with normal pulpal architecture. The pulp tissue in formocresol group showed necrosis with no evidence of dentine bridge formation
Conclusion: the biodentine showed higher clinical, radiographic and histopathologic success rate compared to formocresol as a pulpotomy agent in primary molars. It can be considered as a biomaterial for vital pulp therapy of deep caries in primary teeth.