Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Allium sativum Oil (Garlic Oil) in Comparison with Formocresol in Primary Molar Pulpotomy

BACKGROUND: Given the side effects of formocresol as a common substance in dental pulpotomy, its substitution with a safe substance seems mandatory. AIM: To compare the clinical and radiographic success of Allium sativum oil and formocresol in the pulpotomy of the primary molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, split-mouth, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted on children with at least two asymptomatic primary molars requiring pulpotomy. A total of 90 teeth were examined in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: the A. sativum (ALL) group (n = 45) and the formocresol (FC) group (n = 45). After pulpotomy, A. sativum oil was applied to the radicular pulp in the ALL groups and formocresol in the FC group. The pulp chamber was then filled with reinforced Zinc oxide Eugenol and finally restored by a stainless steel crown. Three and six months after the intervention, the teeth were evaluated by a colleague based on a modified criteria system. The results were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s test. RESULTS: The clinical success rate was 100% in both groups after 3 and 6 months. The radiographic success rate in the ALL group and the FC group after 3 and 6 months was 82.2% and 80% and 88.9% and 84.4%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.46). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, A. sativum oil can be used in the pulpotomy of the primary molars.