A Retrospective Study of Root Canal Therapy in Non-vital Primary Molars

Purpose: This retrospective study was performed to assess the clinical and radiographic success rates of a non-vital formocresol and zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) primary molar root canal therapy (RCT) technique. The effects of this treatment on the permanent successors and on exfoliation times were also investigated. Methods: The study included 161 patients with 211 primary molars treated by RCT by a single operator in a private pediatric dental office in the Toronto area. Results: A clinical success rate of 90.0% and a radiographic success rate of 77.3% were obtained. Enamel defects were found in 6.8% of permanent successors and in patients who were significantly younger at the time of root canal therapy treatment (p = .001). Treated molars exfoliated on average 5.8 months sooner than contralateral teeth (p