Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Potassium Nitrate in Polycarboxylate Versus Mineral Trioxide Aggregate in Vital Pulpotomy in Primary Molars

"The application of polycarboxylate cement containing 5% KNO3 for direct capping of traumatically exposed pulp in animal models did not result in any degenerative changes in dental pulp, thought creating optimal conditions for preservation of pulp vitality.~Polycarboxylate cement has very thin film thickness and bonds firmly to the tooth structure, is capable of withstanding the overlying pressure during restoration procedures. The good adhesive properties of polycarboxylate cement containing 5% KNO3 guaranteed the closure of cavity, good and lasting protection of traumatically exposed dental pulp and the formation of alkaline environment possessing a strong antiacidic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect of this pulp capping material, creating optimal conditions for expression of its natural reparative potential. The increased release of potassium nitrate from polycarboxylate cement by time, might be the cause of decreasing the inflammatory intensity"

Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) has been the gold standard material for primary tooth pulpotomy. MTA has antimicrobial properties, excellent sealing ability, is biocompatible and has a dentinogenic effect on pulp tissue by stimulating the release of cytokines from bone cells, which promotes hard tissue formation. Furthermore, MTA maintains pulp tissue integrity while having no cytotoxic effects. Nevertheless, the clinical application of MTA has been limited due to some properties such as its long setting time, difficulty in its handling, being washed out, discoloration, and increased cost. These urged the search for an alternative pulpotomy material to MTA