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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
106 questions in 20 reviews · cluster CL0210
current versionsNo studies 16 · 15.1%Ungraded 69 · 65.1%Very low 17 · 16%Low 3 · 2.8%Moderate 0 · 0%High 1 · 0.9%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Patient- and clinical-reported outcomes (tooth survival, clinical/radiographic success, pain) · Asymptomatic permanent teeth with deep caries (no symptoms) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Full pulpotomy vs Partial pulpotomy Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · 1 year, Irreversible pulpitis Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Log odds ratio (LogOR) -0.77 [-1.62, 0.09] | 3 studies · 204 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) hemostatic agent vs Partial pulpotomy without NaOCl / alternative hemostatic agent Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth and deep carious pulp exposure · >=1 year, Hemostatic agent (NaOCl use and concentration) Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression across included studies: NaOCl concentration did not significantly affect success when a tri-calcium silicate capping material was used; the use of NaOCl itself showed borderline significance (higher… | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Postoperative analgesic use · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · Postoperative (up to 1 week) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Analgesic use recorded in both studies. Jassal: PP 12% vs FP 8%. In one study, significantly fewer patients required analgesics with complete/full pulpotomy (30.6%) than partial pulpotomy (54.5%), and mean analgesic… | 2 studies · 156 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with one-unit longer follow-up vs Partial pulpotomy with one-unit shorter follow-up Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Per unit increase in follow-up time, Sensitivity analysis excluding studies with high risk of bias Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression coefficient -0.36 | NR | Ungraded |
Restricted partial pulpotomy (pulp removal 2-3 mm from exposure site only) vs Extended partial pulpotomy (pulp removal 2-3 mm from entire pulp chamber with complete deroofing) Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (18-45 y) with mature permanent molars, carious exposure and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis · 1 year, Lateral extent of pulp amputation Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 97.6 vs 97.5 | 1 study · 96 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Radiographic hard-tissue (dentine) barrier formation · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 1 year The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Ramani: radiographic hard-tissue barrier formation evident in 24.4% of full pulpotomy cases vs 11.6% of partial pulpotomy cases; difference not significant (p>.05). | 1 study · 106 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Pulp sensibility (EPT/cold response) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 1 year The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Jassal: positive pulp sensibility at 1 year - EPT positive in PP 95.45% (21/22) vs FP 63.6% (14/22); cold test positive in PP 45.45% (10/22) vs FP 13.63% (3/22). Sensibility was not used to ascertain the success… | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Restricted partial pulpotomy (pulp removal 2-3 mm from exposure site only) vs Extended partial pulpotomy (pulp removal 2-3 mm from entire pulp chamber with complete deroofing) Postoperative pain and analgesic intake · Adults (18-45 y) with mature permanent molars, carious exposure and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis · Postoperative days 1-2, Lateral extent of pulp amputation Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Same RCT (Ramani 2024): restricted PP had significantly lower postoperative pain scores on days 1 and 2 (p<0.05) and required significantly less analgesic intake (p<0.05) than extended PP. | 1 study · 96 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Postoperative pain (VAS) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 24 h to 7 days The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Jassal: no significant difference in postoperative pain between PP and FP at 24 h, 48 h and 7 days (preoperative PP 7.44+/-0.96 vs FP 7.52+/-1.08, p>.879). Ramani: no difference in pain incidence at 24 h (p=.496) but… | 2 studies · 156 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 1 year (12 months) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | FP 90%, PP 83% (pooled unadjusted 1-year success; no significant difference; no meta-analysis) | 2 studies · 135 participants | High |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Patient- and clinical-reported outcomes (tooth survival, clinical/radiographic success, pain) · Permanent teeth with deep caries and reversible pulpitis (non-spontaneous pain) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Hemostasis <=6 min Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.904 | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Hemostasis unknown Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.802 | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Normal pulp/reversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.920 [0.879, 0.954] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · 12 months, 12-month follow-up Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.856 | NR | Ungraded |
Full pulpotomy vs Partial pulpotomy Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature permanent teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and carious pulp exposure · >=12 months Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | OR 2.16 [0.92, 5.07] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Hemostasis >=10 min Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.862 | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.824 [0.746, 0.890] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Unspecified/mixed diagnosis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.909 [0.833, 0.965] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Partial pulpotomy Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.882 | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.867 [0.820, 0.907] | 25 studies · 2012 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · 24 months, 24-month follow-up Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.902 | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Mature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.838 [0.759, 0.904] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.872 [0.803, 0.929] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm success proportion) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Full pulpotomy Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.859 | NR | Ungraded |
Pre-operative caries fillings or crowns vs Intact teeth Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Pre-operative caries fillings or crowns Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 13 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pre-operative caries fillings or crowns vs Intact teeth Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Intact teeth Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pulp-status assessment method Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Radiographic Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 4.95 [2.43, 8.29] | 5 studies · 1853 participants | Ungraded |
Pulp-status assessment method Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Objective Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5.66 [3.71, 7.99] | 24 studies · 6581 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Observational studies (GRADE evidence profile) Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.926 [0.86, 0.96] | 6 studies · 177 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Randomized trials (GRADE evidence profile) Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.743 [0.56, 0.86] | 5 studies · 488 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.913 [0.80, 0.965] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy with Biodentine vs Pulpotomy with Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: Biodentine vs CEM Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Biodentine demonstrated a statistically significantly higher success rate than CEM (indirect comparison; Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Pulpotomy with Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: MTA vs CEM Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MTA was not significantly superior to CEM (no significant difference; Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy with Biodentine vs Pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: Biodentine vs calcium hydroxide Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Biodentine demonstrated a statistically significantly higher success rate than calcium hydroxide (indirect comparison; Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Hall Technique preformed metal crowns vs Conventional restorations (amalgam, GIC, composite) Discomfort during treatment · Children (3-10 years) with dentine caries in primary molars · During treatment Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | RR 1.67 [0.65, 4.25] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Preformed metal crown (PMC) vs Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement + composite resin (modified open-sandwich restoration) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with carious primary molars treated by pulpotomy (vital pulp therapy) · 2 years, PMC arm Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022) | AFR 2.5 | 1 study · 87 participants | Ungraded |
Zirconia crown vs Composite strip crown (filled with hybrid composite) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children (aged 3-5.5 years) with early childhood caries in anterior primary teeth (>=2 carious surfaces), no pulp… · 12 months (Alaki 2020) Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) zirconia crown 3.3%; composite strip crown 15.0% | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Trim-and-fill adjusted for publication bias Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.786 [0.66, 0.87] | 15 (11 observed + 4 imputed) studies | Ungraded |
Preformed metal crown (PMC) vs Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement + composite resin (modified open-sandwich restoration) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with carious primary molars treated by pulpotomy (vital pulp therapy) · 2 years, RMGIC + composite resin (modified open-sandwich) arm Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022) | AFR 3.8 | 1 study · 87 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months (follow-up 6 to 73.6 months) Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.86 [0.76, 0.92] | 11 studies | Very low |
Pulpotomy with Biodentine vs Pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: Biodentine vs MTA Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Biodentine demonstrated a statistically significantly higher success rate than MTA (indirect comparison; numeric estimate in Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Preformed metal crown placed by the Hall technique (PMC/HT) vs Compomer restoration or non-restorative caries treatment Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children (aged 3-8 years) with 2-surface occluso-proximal dentine caries in primary molars, no pulp therapy · 2.5 years / 30 months (Santamaria 2017) Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) PMC Hall technique 3.1%; compomer 14.7% | 1 study · 169 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis and open (immature) root apex due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Open (immature) root apex Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.958 [0.81, 0.99] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis and closed (mature) root apex due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Closed (mature) root apex Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.83 [0.69, 0.91] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: MTA vs calcium hydroxide Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MTA yielded a statistically significantly higher success rate than calcium hydroxide (indirect comparison; Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.84 [0.72, 0.92] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Hall Technique (sealing with a preformed metal crown) vs Non-restorative cavity control (NRCC) Failure of therapy · Children and/or adults with permanent or primary teeth, vital (sensitive) pulps, and cavitated or dentine carious… · 30 months, Cavitated lesions, primary dentition Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions (2021) · Cochrane | OR 0.19 [0.05, 0.74] | 1 study · 84 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Tooth survival · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · 18-24 months Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | Survival rate 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.97) for pulpotomy and 0.97 for pulpectomy at 18 months (Nguyen et al.); 63% for pulpotomy and 85% for pulpectomy at 2 years (Casas et al.). Not pooled. | 2 studies | Ungraded |