Effects of glass ionomer temporary restorations on pulpal diagnosis and treatment outcomes in primary molars.

PURPOSE: To evaluate 1) if glass ionomer interim temporary restorations (ITR) placed for 1-3 months prior to vital pulp therapy (VPT) improved accuracy of diagnosing the pulp's clinical status and subsequent VPT success, and 2) the effect of the location of the carious lesion on VPT. METHODS: Primary molars (N=117) receiving pulp therapy with or without ITR were evaluated retrospectively. All teeth had caries extending >50 percent into dentin; caries lesion location was identified (proximal or non-proximal). Two examiners rated pulp status assessment, caries location, and pulp treatment, and correlated treatment outcomes after a mean of 34.7 months to these factors. RESULTS: VPT failed more often in first primary molars (P<.001) than in second primary molars. Using ITR improved diagnosis of the pulp status, clinical success of VPT, (P=.013) and first molar VPT success (P=.02). First primary molars had more proximal lesions than second molars (P<.001). Failure of VPT was greater for teeth with proximal lesions (P=.03). Use of ITR significantly improved VPT in teeth with proximal lesions (P=.007) but not non-proximal lesions (P=.38). CONCLUSIONS: ITR placed prior to VPT improved pulpal diagnosis and VPT outcomes. Vital pulp therapy was less successful in primary molars with proximal lesions, and ITR significantly improved the success.