Partial pulpectomy; Eugenol + ZOE

Sometimes a partial pulpectomy is performed as the first stage of treatment for acute pulpitis. However, a complete cleaning and shaping procedure followed by placement of a non-setting calcium hydroxide paste is preferable. If cleaning and shaping cannot be completed, eugenol (or a corticoid preparation) may be applied into the canal system and the cavity restored with (a eugenol pellet and) a ZOE top filling. The effectiveness of pain control of this treatment mode is still high (over 90 %), but slightly lower than that for a pulpotomy. It is therefore better not to commence the initial preparation of the canals unless they can be instrumented completely.