Traditionally, teeth with irreversible pulpitis have been treated either by root canal therapy or extraction, yet root canal treatment, although considered the gold standard, still presents limitations because it is technique-sensitive, invasive, time-consuming, and costly. To address these issues, more affordable and minimally invasive alternatives are being explored. With better understanding of the regenerative and healing abilities of inflamed pulp, along with the development of biologically active materials, vital pulp therapy is now increasingly viewed as a suitable alternative for managing irreversible pulpitis. Mineral trioxide aggregate is widely accepted as the current gold standard, but its drawbacks-including high cost, extended setting time and potential tooth discoloration-remain significant concerns. As a result, newer materials are being evaluated that are more cost-effective while avoiding these disadvantages.
One such material, Rosmarinus officinalis, has been used in vital pulp therapy of primary molars and has shown promising results. Despite the documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of R. officinalis, its use as a pulpotomy agent in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis has not yet been investigated. This study aims to compare the outcomes of pulpotomy treatment using R. officinalis extract both clinically and radiographically versus MTA. This may help provide an alternative to RCT and a more economical option than MTA, while aiming for comparable effectiveness and addressing the limitations associated with MTA. Healthy young adults exhibiting signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis in at least one permanent posterior tooth, showing no periapical radiolucency in a periapical x-ray, along with the absence of swelling or sinus tract formation will be selected. Only the teeth with hemostasis achieved following the removal of coronal pulp will be included.
A randomized control trail will be conducted, wherein participants will be randomly assigned, using lottery method, to two groups, each consisting of 50 individuals of age 18-40 years of both sexes. After administration of anesthesia and isolation using a rubber dam, a sterile diamond round bur in a high-speed handpiece with water spray will used to remove enamel caries and carbide round bur in slow speed handpiece is used to remove dentinal caries. After the access opening, the coronal pulp will be removed up to the level of the canal orifice using a spoon excavator. After rinsing with sterile saline, hemostasis will be achieved by placing damp cotton soaked in saline. For group A, cotton will be dipped in R-officinalis extract, and placed over radicular pulp for 5 minutes and the pulp chamber will be sealed with a thick paste of aqueous R. officinalis extract with zinc oxide powder and for group B, white MTA will be prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions and placed in the pulp chamber compacted with a damp cotton pellet. Both will be restored with glass ionomer followed by direct composite. An immediate post-op periapical x-ray will be exposed. For clinical and radiographical evaluation patients will be recalled for follow-up at 1 week, 3 month and 6 months. Statistical analysis will be performed at the significance level of p= 0.05.
