The Effect of Using 70% Ethanol Alcohol as a Root Canal Irrigant on Increasing the Success Rate of Metapex in Pulpectomy Compared to Normal Saline in Primary Molars

In permanent dentition, Calcium Hydroxide-Iodoform paste (Metapex) has a high potential in forming a calcific barrier in the pulpal tissue. Yet, in primary dentition Metapex forms a chronic inflammatory reaction to the pulpal tissue leading to its internal and root resorption. Although the high success rate of Metapex in partial pulpectomy, the rapid resorption of Metapex has led to the presence of the hollow tube effect due to voids formation in the canals. However, this will cause early root resorption before the time of exfoliation. Due to its rapid resorption, Metapex is usually recommended to be used in the pulpectomy of teeth near exfoliation in order to avoid the early root resorption of primary dentition in order to avoid the premature loss of the endodontically treated vital primary teeth with Metapex. Saline solution is the basic irrigating solution in root canal treatments, yet it has no antimicrobial activities and only results in cleaning the root canals. Ethanol irrigation is believed to be an alternative promising replacement in tissue fixation from Formocresol due to the concerns from its carcinogenicity and toxicity. Also, Ethanol has an excellent bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal, and most importantly it is one of the volatile liquids. In this study, the effect of Ethanol Alcohol on increasing the success rate of Metapex in vital pulp therapy will be studied.