Retrospective evaluation of the success of mineral trioxide aggregate pulpotomy and root canal treatment in permanent teeth with vital pulp

Aim: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical and radiographic success rates of pulpotomy using Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) compared to traditional root canal treatment in permanent teeth with vital pulp. Materials and Methods: The study included clinical and radiographic data from patients treated with MTA pulpotomy or root canal therapy between 2018 and 2022, archived at Uşak University Faculty of Dentistry. The groups were defined as follows: Group 1, teeth treated with MTA pulpotomy, and Group 2, teeth treated with root canal therapy. A total of 196 teeth were examined, with 45% undergoing pulpotomy and 55% root canal therapy. Periapical status was assessed during a two-year follow-up using the periapical index (PAI) described by Ørstavik ve ark. (1986), modified to compare the PAI score from the treatment day to the follow-up day. Cases with a decrease in PAI score to 1 or 2 (PAI ≤ 2) were considered healed, while those with scores of 3, 4, or 5 were deemed failures. Results: The success rate of MTA pulpotomy was higher than that of root canal treatment. After two years, pulpotomy-treated teeth had a success rate of 92.1%, while teeth treated with root canal therapy had a success rate of 80.4%. Conclusion: MTA pulpotomy is a viable alternative to root canal treatment in young permanent teeth with appropriate clinical conditions. Keywords : Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), Pulpotomy, Root Canal Treatment, PAI (Periapical Index)