What is Formocresol used for?

Formocresol was first used as a root canal medication by Buckley in 1904. It is widely used in dentistry because of its antibacterial properties in root canal disinfection. [12] It contains formaldehyde, an effective alkylating agent, and cresol, a protein-coagulating phenolic compound.

What does formocresol do to pulp?

It forms bonds with the side groups of amino acids, both proteins of the bacteria and proteins of the remaining pulp tissue. Therefore, Formocresol is both a bactericidal and a mummifying agent. It kills bacteria and pulp tissue and converts them into inert compounds.

What is a formocresol in dentistry?

Formocresol is a mixture consisting of formalin, cresol and glycerine used in dentistry. It is used for vital pulpotomy of primary teeth and as a temporary intracanal medicament during root canal therapy. Buckley's solution is a 20% form of formocresol, diluted with glycerine and distilled water.

Is formocresol still used?

Despite the hundreds of articles that have supported the mutagenicity (genotoxicity), carcinogenicity and toxicity of formalde- hyde, formocresol is still used today in full strength by an alarming number of clinicians around the world. 14 Formocresol is widely accepted for vital pulpotomy.

How is formocresol used in root canal treatment?

Rinse and dry the canal spaces. Moisten a small cotton pellet with formocresol. Blot or wring any excess liquid from the pellet. Place the cotton pellet in the pulp chamber and seal the access hole with a temporary filling material.

Formocresol in RCT | is it a Right Choice? | Let's Discuss | Dr. Sunil Kumar

Is formocresol safe for dental?

Milnes A R. Persuasive evidence that formocresol use in pediatric dentistry is safe. J Can Dent Assoc 2006; 72: 247–248. Hagiwara M, Watanabe E et al.

Why is formocresol used in pulpotomy?

Formocresol and ferric sulfate have been used as protective medicaments for partial or complete pulpotomy procedures, among other techniques, including electrosurgery and laser cautery. Ferric sulfate and formocresol staunch the bleeding pulp, but neither material is bioactive.

What can I use instead of formocresol?

Formocresol has a long history of clinical success, but concern exists regarding its safety as a medicament for primary molar pulp therapy. Alternatives have been proposed: calcium hydroxide, with relatively poor outcome and glutaraldehyde, which has shown better success rates than the former.

Is formocresol a hemostatic agent?

Formocresol, a once popular pulpotomy agent in primary teeth, has several side effects [3]. SH is a hemostatic agent and can probably be used in pulpotomy of primary teeth [11].

Does formocresol cause protein coagulation?

Thus, formocresol immersion might have reinforced the dentin tensile strength by protein coagulation, while eugenol immersion might have reinforced the dentin tensile strength by not only protein coagulation but also chelation with hydroxyapatite.

Do we still need formocresol in pediatric dentistry?

The suggestion has been made recently that formocresol use in pediatric dentistry is unwarranted because of safety concerns, and consequently, formocresol use in pediatric pulp therapy is obsolete.

What is formocresol made of?

1. DESCRIPTION. Formocresol: 48.5% formaldehyde, 48.5% cresol, 3% glycerine. Buckley's Formocresol: 19% formaldehyde, 35% cresol, 17.5% gylcerine.

What is EDTA used for in dentistry?

EDTA works by reacting with the mineral components of the hard tissues of the tooth. The chelating agent EDTA softens the tissues, decalcifying the canal walls. It facilitates the mechanical preparation of the root canal and further removal of the smear layer, which opens dentin tubules.

Is formocresol banned?

Moreover, several countries have banned the use of formocresol with pediatric patients. One of the main components of formocresol, formaldehyde, is at the center of this controversy. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen when exposed to a large dose directly for long term.

How do you stop bleeding from a pulpectomy?

If unable to do this procedure, refer the patient to an endodontist. If bleeding stops: Irrigate with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and leave in the canals and pulp chamber for 10 to 15 minutes. Dry and place calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] in the canals and close, if bleeding stops.

What is root canal sealer?

A root canal sealer (cement) is used in combination with the core root canal filling material, e.g. gutta-percha. The primary role of the sealer is to obliterate the irregularities between the root canal wall and the core material.

What are pulp stumps?

Pulpotomy is the term for removal of the coronal pulp with the intent of maintaining the vitality of the remaining radicular pulp tissue. From: Problem Solving in Endodontics (Fifth Edition), 2011.

Who introduced formocresol pulpotomy?

Formocresol was introduced by Buckley in 1904 mixing equal parts of formalin and tricresol intended to fix nonvital pulp tissue. In 1930, Sweet used so-called commercially available “Buckley's formula” with 19% formaldehyde and 35% creosol to “mummify” (fix) the pulp tissue in six visits.

What is MTA pulpotomy?

MTA may be used as an alternative pulpotomy agent in immature teeth with pulp exposure to stimulate pulp healing with dentin bridge formation and complete root formation. But, discoloration following MTA pulpotomy appears as a major clinical complication.

What is direct pulp capping?

DIRECT PULP CAPPING

The direct pulp cap, in which a material is placed directly over the exposed pulp tissue, has been suggested as a way to promote pulp healing and generate reparative dentin. If successful, this procedure precludes the need for more invasive, more extensive and more expensive treatment.

What is ferric sulfate used for in dentistry?

Ferric sulphate is commonly used in dentistry for control of bleeding during surgery or for gingival retraction. When applied directly to pulp tissue, a ferric ion-protein complex is formed which blocks the cut vessels mechanically.

What is the use of gutta percha?

Gutta-percha is a material used to fill a tooth after a root canal procedure. Gutta-percha, a plastic substance from a Malaysian tree called a percha tree, is used as a permanent filling in root canals.

What is the difference between pulpotomy and pulpectomy?

In pulpotomy, the coronal part of the pulp is removed while in Pulpectomy procedure, the crown and the root canal of the pulp chamber is removed. For further understanding, Pulpotomy is a common procedure and can be referred to as baby root canal. Pulpotomy restores and saves the tooth infected by a deep cavity.

What is Apexogenesis and Apexification?

Apexification is a method of inducing a calcified barrier at the apex of a nonvital tooth with incomplete root formation. Apexogenesis refers to a vital pulp therapy procedure performed to encourage physiological development and formation of the root end.

What are Intracanal medicaments?

Intracanal medication comprises application of a chemical substance into the root canal in order to exert some desired therapeutic effect. The most common indication for intracanal medication is to improve disinfection after chemomechanical preparation.