Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the success of primary molar pulpectomy with a minimum of 1 year and up to 4 years follow-up with focus on the treatment setting (general anesthesia, sedation, local anesthesia alone).
Method and materials: Data were retrieved from 92 patients’ records between 2012 and 2020. The pulpectomy treatment using calcium-hydroxide/iodoform paste was performed under general anesthesia (n = 45), nitrous oxide sedation (n = 21), or local anesthesia alone (n = 39). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.
Results: The overall success of pulpectomy was 59.5% 4 years post-treatment. The 4-years clinical success rate was clinically relevantly higher under general anesthesia (78.6% vs 57.1% under nitrous oxide sedation, 43.8% with local anesthesia only) and in the mandibular arch (70.8% vs 38.5% in the maxillary arch). This could be related to the strict case selection under sedation and especially general anesthesia. Despite statistically significant differences in the bivariate analysis for most outcomes and follow-up periods, this was not the case in multivariate regression.
Conclusion: Pulpectomy performed in primary molars offers a successful long-term treatment option especially with a strict case selection as under general anesthesia.