The purpose of this study was to compare clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic effects of
Nd:YAG laser pulpotomy to
formocresol pulpotomy on human primary teeth. Patients with at least two vital primary molar teeth that required
pulpotomy, because of pulpal exposure to caries, were selected for this study. After
hemorrhage control, complete hemostasis into the canal orifice was achieved by exposure to
Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and an He-Ne
laser (the aiming beam of the
Nd:YAG laser) in noncontact mode at 2 W, 20 Hz, 100 mJ, or was achieved by applying 1:5 dilution of
formocresol. Forty-two teeth in two groups were to be followed up clinically and radiographic at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Eighteen teeth planned for
serial extractions were selected for histopathologic study. The teeth were extracted at 7 and 60 days. The teeth in the
laser group had a clinical success rate of 85.71% and a radiographic success rate 71.42% at 12 months. The teeth in the
formocresol group had a clinical and radiographic success rate of 90.47% at 12 months. There were no statistically significant differences between
laser and
formocresol group with regard to both clinical and radiographic success rates. There was a statistically significant difference between 7- and 60-day
laser groups with regard to inflammatory cell response criteria. Dentin bridge was absent in all samples. No stained bacteria were observed in any of these samples. In conclusion,
Nd:YAG laser may be considered as an alternative to
formocresol for
pulpotomies in primary teeth.