What do systematic reviews say?

Pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)

MTA had a significantly higher pulpotomy success rate than calcium hydroxide (indirect comparison; numeric estimate not available); ungraded.

• Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022 All outcomes

  >=6 months · Clinical (endodontic/dental) · Pulp capping material: MTA vs calcium hydroxide
  MTA yielded a statistically significantly higher success rate than calcium hydroxide (indirect comparison; Supplementary Table S5, not available).
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion)

In symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, pooled pulpotomy success was 84% (95% CI 72-92%); not significantly different from asymptomatic (z=-1.34, p=0.18); ungraded.

• Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022 All outcomes

  >=6 months · Clinical (endodontic/dental) · Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.84 [0.72, 0.92]
  9 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes

  Full meta-regression: preoperative diagnosis
  Meta-regression No significant association
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes

  Full meta-regression: follow-up duration
  Meta-regression No significant association
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Mature teeth, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.798 [0.712, 0.873]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Immature teeth, unspecified/mixed diagnosis
  Proportion 0.888 [0.816, 0.945]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Partial pulpotomy, normal pulp/reversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.920 [0.879, 0.954]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Partial pulpotomy, immature teeth
  Proportion 0.924 [0.851, 0.976]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Immature teeth, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.790 [0.667, 0.892]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Partial pulpotomy, mature teeth
  Proportion 0.842 [0.745, 0.921]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Full pulpotomy, immature teeth
  Proportion 0.844 [0.748, 0.921]
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Full pulpotomy, mature teeth
  Proportion 0.846 [0.739, 0.930]
  9 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Mature teeth, partial pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.808 [0.723, 0.881]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Full pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.837 [0.741, 0.916]
  12 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Immature teeth, normal pulp/reversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.892 [0.834, 0.940]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Full pulpotomy, unspecified/mixed diagnosis
  Proportion 0.903 [0.801, 0.973]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Mature teeth, full pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.817 [0.702, 0.909]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Partial pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis
  Proportion 0.826 [0.754, 0.889]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of… 2024 All outcomes

  Mixed root maturation (both mature and immature teeth)
  Proportion 0.950 [0.859, 0.998]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention led to higher dental caries in primary dentition (presence); GRADE not reported.

• Association between passive tobacco exposure and caries in children and adolescents. A systematic review and… 2018 All outcomes

  Postnatal exposure; primary dentition; trim-and-fill adjusted (publication-bias sensitivity)
  OR 1.72 [1.45, 2.05]
  13 studies
  GRADE not reported