The aim of this study was to compare the post-operative pain experience clinical and radiographic outcomes of pulpotomy in human permanent molars with irreversible pulpitis using calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA).

Patients were randomly allocated into two study arms: MTA pulpotomy ( n = 208) and CEM pulpotomy (n = 205).   Numerical rating scale questionnaires were utilized by the patients to record pain intensity (PI) over 7 days post-operatively. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of treatment were assessed over 12 months. The data was analyzed using Chi-square, Cohen’s kappa and t-tests.

They found no significant differences in either

•  the mean PI recorded during the 7 post-operative days between the two study arms (p = 0.221).

or

• in clinical and radiographic success rates between the two arms.

	Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)	Calcium enriched mixture (CEM)	Probability P
Clinical success at 12 months	98%	97%	P = 0.7
Radiographic success at 12 months	95%	92%	P = 0.7

The authors concluded.

 Excellent treatment outcomes occurred in molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis undergoing pulpotomy with MTA and CEM biomaterials.

Asgary S, Eghbal MJ. Treatment outcomes of pulpotomy in permanent molars with irreversible pulpitis using biomaterials: A multi-center randomized controlled trial. Acta Odontol Scand. 2012 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID:22339289.