Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the diode laser (DL) pulpotomy method is a suitable alternative to formocresol (FC) and ferric sulphate (FS) pulpotomies in human primary teeth. Background data: Pulpotomy is the amputation of infected coronal pulp to maintain radicular pulp vitality and function. Although FC is regarded as the gold standard for pulpotomy in primary teeth, concerns about its safety have been reported. Lasers are an effective nonpharmacological alternative for treating pulp in children. Methods: This study included 120 primary molars in 58 children 5-9 years of age who underwent an identical conventional pulpotomy technique; the molars were allocated to FC, FS, and DL groups. After removal of the coronal tissue, complete hemostasis of the remaining pulp in the DL group was achieved by DL at 1.5 W, 30 Hz, and 50 mJ, with a 10 sec exposure time. For the FC group, diluted FC (1:5 Buckley's formocresol) was used for 5 min., and for the FS group, a 15.5% FS solution was used for 15 sec. Treatments in all groups were completed with stainless steel crowns and monitored clinically and radiographically at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Results: The clinical success rates at 12 months were 97%, 95%, and 100%, whereas the radiographic success rates were 87%, 79%, and 75%, for the FC, FS and DL groups, respectively. The differences in the results were not statistically significant according to the v 2 test ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: DL pulpotomy offers a high clinical success rate, however considering radiographic success rate, it may not replace traditional FC and FS pulpotomies in primary molars.

Objective: We assessed the clinical survival of a high-viscosity glass ionomer (HVGI) at the 2-year follow-up to restore molar incisors severely affected by hypomineralization after selective carious tissue removal (SCR). The null hypothesis tested was that there are no differences in the overall survival times in the categories of the variables of interest. Methods: A total of 134 fully erupted first molar incisors with hypomineralization, cavitated and with moderate-to-deep carious lesions without hypersensitivity or pain (MIH treatment need index 2a–c), were included in the study. HVGI (Equia Forte®; GC, Tokyo, Japan) restorations were applied after SCR to soft carious dentin. The follow-up lasted 2 years. The end point was defined as the absence of endodontic and restorative complications. Two-year, and 18-, 12-, and 6-month survival probabilities and standard errors were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival probabilities according to patient gender, jaw, and lesion severity groups were compared using the log-rank test. Restorations were evaluated using the modified US Public Health Service criteria. Results: HVGI restorations showed cumulative survival probabilities of 95.5% at 6 months, 94% at 12 months, 87.5% at 18 months, and 87.5% at 24 months. Survival probabilities according to patient gender, jaw, and lesion severity groups were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05). Therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted. Conclusion: Following SCR, HVGI restoration provided moderate survival probabilities, suggesting that the SCR technique is effective.

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This study evaluated the effect of tooth preparation method (diamond bur vs. Er:YAG laser) on the microleakage levels of glass ionomers and resin composite. Human permanent premolars (N = 80) were randomly divided into two groups (n = 40). Cavities on half of the teeth were prepared using diamond bur for enamel and carbide bur for dentin and the other half using Er:YAG laser. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups according to the restoration materials, namely (a) ChemFil Rock (CFR), (b) IonoluxAC (IAC), (c) EQUIA system (EQA) and one resin composite (d) AeliteLS (ALS) (n = 10 per group). Microleakage (m) was assessed at the occlusal and gingival margins after dye penetration (0.5% basic fuchsine for 24 h). On the occlusal aspect, while the cavity preparation types significantly affected the microleakage for CFR (p = 0.015), IAC (p = 0.001) glass ionomer restorations, it did not show significant effect for glass ionomer EQA (p = 0.09) and resin composite ALS (p = 0.2). Er:YAG laser presented less microleakage compared to bur preparation in all groups except for EQA. On the gingival aspect, microleakage decreased significantly for CFR (p = 0.02), IAC (p = 0.001), except for EQA where significant increase was observed (p = 0.001) with the use of Er:YAG laser. Microleakage decrease was not significant at the gingival region between diamond bur and Er:YAG laser for ALS (p = 0.663). At the occlusal and gingival sites in all groups within each preparation method, microleakage level was not significant.