Partial Pulpotomy as an Applicable Treatment Option for Cariously Exposed Posterior Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

The major focus of this systematic review is to assess how effective partial pulpotomy is in managing carious vital pulp exposures in permanent posterior teeth. An electronic search for studies published between January 2011 and December 2021 was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria were followed during the search process. We selected human randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the success rate of partial pulpotomy for the treatment of cariously exposed vital permanent posterior teeth and the success rate of decayed exposed vital human permanent posterior dentition managed with a partial pulpotomy. Exclusively, randomized clinical trial papers were considered for assessment. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was applied to assess the risk of bias. Four papers were selected for the final analysis from the 321 identified during the initial search. Our results showed that after six, 12, and 24 months of follow-up, the success rate was 94%, 93%, and 90%, respectively. The preoperative pulp state was the only significant predictive factor. Teeth with the presumptive diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis had the worse outcome. The treatment outcome was not influenced by the final restoration, pulp capping agent, apex closure, or patient age. Finally, the available data indicated that partial pulpotomy showed a high success rate in treating cariously exposed permanent posterior teeth for up to 24 months. When assessing the effectiveness of a partial pulpotomy, six months of maintenance is deemed adequate. To enhance treatment success, additional clinical and radiological measures are needed.