Comparative Effectiveness in the Management of Irreversible Pulpitis
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary
This project addresses a central question within the practice of dentistry: Is a pulpotomy procedure effective in the treatment of a tooth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and normal periapex? In addition, the project seeks to identify clinical and molecular biomarkers that are predictive of the success of pulpotomy.
Description
In this study, patients will be randomized to two groups. All patients will have a diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis with normal apical tissues. The groups will be root canal treatment and pulpotomy. The patients will be followed clinically and radiographically for 2 years following the treatment. Predictors of the outcome of pulpotomy will be clinical and laboratory-based parameters.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 12–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Maxillary or mandibular first or second mature permanent molars with carious lesions or restorations (excluding crowns), with signs and symptoms of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (defined as spontaneous pulpal pain and cold hyperalgesia \>30 seconds), and normal apical tissues. * Tooth is responsive to cold and electrical pulp testing. * Patients aged ≥12 years for first molars and ≥16 years for second molars. Exclusion Criteria: * Evidence of Pulp Necrosis or Apical Periodontitis, preoperatively or upon inspection of an exposure site * Teeth that are badly broken d…
Interventions
- ProcedureRCT
This is the standard of care for this diagnosis
- ProcedurePulpotomy
For cases with normal apical tissues, pulpotomy using tricalcium silicates has been shown to have high clinical success. Either partial or complete pulpotomy will be performed depending on the size of pulp exposure.
Location
- School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, Alabama