Comparative Evaluation of Eggshell Powder in Primary Teeth Pulpotomy

This study evaluates whether eggshell powder can be used as an effective pulpotomy material in primary (baby) teeth. A pulpotomy is a dental procedure performed on baby teeth with deep cavities that have reached the nerve — the infected or inflamed top portion of the nerve is removed and a medicament is placed to preserve the remaining healthy tooth root until it naturally falls out. The current gold-standard material is mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), but it is expensive and not always widely available. Eggshell powder is rich in calcium carbonate and other minerals, making it a potentially low-cost, biocompatible alternative. Children aged 4 to 7 with restorable primary molar teeth affected by deep decay are eligible. The tooth must show no signs of advanced infection (no spontaneous pain, no gum swelling, no abnormal x-ray findings like root resorption or bone destruction). Children with painful, already infected, or seriously structurally compromised teeth are excluded. Participants will undergo a pulpotomy procedure, with some receiving eggshell powder and others receiving the standard material for comparison. Clinical and x-ray assessments will follow over time. This research matters because it addresses a real gap in dental care for children in low-resource settings, where affordable alternatives to expensive dental materials are urgently needed to prevent premature tooth loss and its downstream effects on chewing, speech, and permanent tooth development.