Vital pulpectomy and root filling with N2 or Endomethasone

Abstract

Summary. Using an aseptic and standardized endodontic technique, vital pulpectomy was performed on 16 pairs of human permanent maxillary front teeth scheduled for extraction in connection with prosthetic treatment. All the teeth had clinically sound pulps before treatment and 16 teeth were root filled with N2 and the other 16 with Endomethasone. In all cases except two, contralateral teeth were used. After 4–8 months the teeth were extracted and processed for histological examination using light microscopy. Histological examination of the residual pulp demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two root‐filling materials, concerning inflammation and the frequency of necrosis. The healing reactions, occurrence of fibrous tissue in the residual pulp and hard tissue apposition on the root canal wall, were more pronounced after root filling with N2, than after Endomethasone, but the differences were not statistically significant. Comparing the results with those after vital pulpectomy and root filling with zinc oxide‐eugenol cement, total necrosis of the residual pulp was most frequent after root filling with Endomethasone, less so after zinc oxide‐ eugenol cement and least after root filling with N2, but the differences were not statistically significant. When estimated from the local findings, that is the histological reactions in the residual pulp, no advantages could be observed by using N2 or Endomethasone, and owing to the risk of general side effects, because of the formaldehyde content and the complex composition of the two materials routine use of N2 or Endomethasone cannot be recommended in pulpectomy.