Coronal Pulpotomies Show Promise for Irreversibly Inflamed Permanent Molars

Background: The traditional treatment options for a permanent molar with irreversible pulpitis have been conventional root canal treatment and extraction. To suggest that a simple pulpotomy can relieve symptoms may seem like heresy to some, but that idea is exactly what this paper puts forward. The authors performed their treatments with 2 biomaterials: mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium-enriched mixture (CEM). Objective: To compare the radiographic outcomes, clinical results, and pain experience of patients who received pulpotomy therapy on permanent molars diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis. Participants/Methods: 413 patients met the inclusion criteria of having a toothache in a molar tooth, requesting an extraction due to tooth pain, and having spontaneous tooth pain that worsened with hot and cold. When a patient met the inclusion criteria and was determined to have what the authors called partial irreversible pulpitis, the offending tooth was treated with a coronal p more...