Pulpotomy - A review

Pulpotomy is the most accepted procedures for treating primary and young permanent teeth with carious/traumatic pulp exposures. Pulpotomy as a procedure was delineated by Sweet in 1930 and followed up by various other researchers. Innumerable materials, methods and studies later, the ideal pulpotomy is still a mirage, yet through elusive, progressive strides towards success have been documented. There has been a change in the technique and the medicaments used in pulpotomy technique from the empirical era into the biological era. The evolution of material sciences starting from the highly successful but ubiquitous formocresol, to the perplexing and almost miraculous calcium hydroxide, the alternatives such as ferric sulfate and glutaraldehyde, the non chemical modalities of electrosurgery and lasers, and the modern marvels of research and genetics such as Bone Morphogenetic proteins, MTA and bonding agents promise that there is only one way to go for this modality- ahead. Correct diagnosis, proper planning, thorough preparation and ideal implementation will allow pulpotomy to be used as a wise option in the management of carious or traumatized teeth.