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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.
664 questions in 25 reviews · Endodontics and dental trauma
current versionsNo studies 111 · 16.7%Ungraded 417 · 62.8%Very low 69 · 10.4%Low 50 · 7.5%Moderate 16 · 2.4%High 1 · 0.2%
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.
| 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 |
Intervention NR Clinical and radiographic success rate · Full meta-regression: preoperative diagnosis Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression No significant association | NR | Ungraded |
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 |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Postoperative pain (patient-reported) · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · 6 hours to 7 days Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | Two studies assessed postoperative pain; no meta-analysis was performed due to methodological heterogeneity. Suhag 2019: significantly higher pain in CaOH than MTA at 18 h (CaOH 18.5 +/- 20.8 mm vs MTA 6.3 +/- 9.5 mm,… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Hydraulic calcium silicate cements (HCSC; MTA or Biodentine) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Clinical and radiographic success · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · 36 months, 36-month follow-up Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | OR 2.34 [1.43, 3.84] | 2 studies · 379 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with permanent restoration after 7-14 days vs No comparator Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Permanent restoration after 7-14 days Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 73.6 [66.5, 80.7] | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with tri-calcium silicate material (MTA or Biodentine) vs No comparator Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · At least 1 year, MTA or Biodentine Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 86.8 [83.78, 89.82] | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with one additional day before permanent restoration vs Partial pulpotomy with one fewer day before permanent restoration Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Per day of restoration delay, Meta-regression Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression coefficient (per day, proportion scale) -0.088 | NR | Ungraded |
Biodentine (BD) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Clinical and radiographic success · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · >=12 months Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | OR 3.14 [0.91, 10.86] | 3 studies · 242 participants | Ungraded |
Hydraulic calcium silicate cements (HCSC; MTA or Biodentine) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Clinical and radiographic success · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · 12 months, 12-month follow-up Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | OR 4.44 [1.63, 12.07] | 3 studies · 174 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with permanent restoration after more than 14 days vs No comparator Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Permanent restoration after more than 14 days Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 23.2 [13.4, 33.0] | NR | 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 |
Intervention NR Tooth survival · - The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide vs No comparator Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · At least 1 year, Calcium hydroxide Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 34.3 [24.93, 43.67] | 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 |
Intervention NR Clinical and radiographic success rate · Full meta-regression: follow-up duration Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression No significant association | NR | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Clinical and radiographic success · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · >=12 months Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | OR 3.05 [1.70, 5.45] | 4 studies · 311 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 with immediate permanent restoration vs No comparator Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Immediate restoration Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 89.9 [78.5, 99.8] | NR | 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 |
Hydraulic calcium silicate cements (HCSC; MTA or Biodentine) vs Calcium hydroxide (CaOH) Clinical and radiographic success · Vital permanent teeth (mature or immature) with deep or extremely deep caries and asymptomatic pulp or reversible… · >=12 months Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide compared to hydraulic calcium silicate cements for direct pulp capping in… (2025) | OR 2.68 [1.7, 4.22] | 5 studies · 552 participants | Moderate |
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 Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · >=6 months The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Partial pulpotomy (PP) with calcium hydroxide vs Direct pulp capping (DPC) with calcium hydroxide Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth, carious exposure and normal/reversibly inflamed pulp · 1 year Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 34.5 vs 31.8 | 1 study · 51 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy (PP) with calcium hydroxide vs Direct pulp capping (DPC) with calcium hydroxide Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth, carious exposure and normal/reversibly inflamed pulp · 5 years Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 11.1 vs 5.9 | 1 study · 44 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 with tri-calcium silicate material (MTA or Biodentine) vs Partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure (irreversible pulpitis or normal/reversible) · >=1 year (subgroups at 1, 2, 5 years), Capping material (tri-calcium silicate vs calcium hydroxide) Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | MD 52.5 | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with immediate (same-visit) permanent restoration vs Partial pulpotomy with delayed permanent restoration (7-14 days or >14 days) Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth and deep carious pulp exposure · >=1 year, Timing of permanent restoration: immediate vs >14 days Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | MD 66.7 | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with tri-calcium silicate material vs Partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Meta-regression Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression effect (%) 37 | NR | 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 |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature teeth, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.798 [0.712, 0.873] | 10 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 <=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 |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, unspecified/mixed diagnosis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.888 [0.816, 0.945] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, 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] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.924 [0.851, 0.976] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.790 [0.667, 0.892] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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) | OR 6.03 [0.97, 37.6] | 2 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, 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 |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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) | OR 2.81 [1.38, 5.74] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, mature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.842 [0.745, 0.921] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.844 [0.748, 0.921] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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) | OR 2.63 [1.14, 6.03] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, mature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.846 [0.739, 0.930] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature teeth, partial pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.808 [0.723, 0.881] | 5 studies | Ungraded |