Clinical and radiographic effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) partial pulpotomy with low power or high power diode laser irradiation in deciduous molars: a randomized clinical trial.

This study investigated the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of MTA partial pulpotomy with low power or high power diode laser irradiation in primary molars. In this randomized single-blind clinical trial, 63 mandibular second molars were assigned into three groups (n = 21). After pulp amputation and achieving hemostasis, MTA was placed over pulp stumps in group 1 (MTA). The patients in groups 2 (LLLT-MTA) and 3 (DL-MTA) underwent low level (660 nm, 200 mW) and high power (810 nm, 1 W) diode laser radiation prior to MTA placement, respectively. The occurrence of clinical failure (spontaneous pain, tenderness upon percussion, swelling, fistula, mobility) and radiographic failure (periodontal ligament widening, external or internal root resorption, periapical or furcal radiolucency) was recorded up to 18 months after therapy. MTA and LLLT-MTA groups showed clinical success rate of 100% throughout the experiment. The clinical success rate of DL-MTA group was 95.2%, 95.2%, and 87.5% after 6, 9, and 18 months. The radiographic success rates were 90.5%, 90.5%, and 87.5% in the MTA group; 100%, 95.2%, and 88.2% in the LLLT-MTA group, and 85.7%, 76.2%, and 68.7% in the DL-MTA group, at 6-, 9-, and 18-month follow-ups, respectively. No significant differences were found in the frequency of clinical or radiographic failure among the groups at any interval (p > 0.05). MTA partial pulpotomy was a suitable technique for vital pulp therapy in deciduous teeth. The addition of low power or high power diode laser radiation to the procedure did not cause a significant difference in success rate values.