An Early Phase 1 interventional study of CTZ Paste and ZOE Pulpectomy in Pulp Disease, Dental, Pulp Necrosis and Pulp Therapy in Primary Molars, sponsored by University of Sao Paulo. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 11 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-12.
Sponsored by University of Sao Paulo · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
The treatment of pulpal diseases in primary teeth represents a significant challenge in public health, particularly in emergency dental care settings, where factors such as limited clinical time, low child cooperation, and structural constraints directly impact treatment effectiveness. In these contexts, conventional pulpectomy using zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE), although effective, may present operational limitations that restrict its large-scale applicability in public health systems.
In this scenario, non-instrumental endodontic treatment (NIET), based on the concept of Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair (LSTR), has emerged as a simplified alternative. Among the available options, CTZ paste shows potential for single-visit application, reducing clinical time and technical complexity.
This study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiographic non-inferiority of CTZ paste compared to conventional pulpectomy with ZOE in primary molars with pulp necrosis, with or without abscess or fistula, treated in emergency dental care settings.
This is a randomized, pragmatic, controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial conducted at a single center, with clinical and radiographic follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months. Participants will be allocated into two groups: (1) NIET with CTZ paste and (2) conventional pulpectomy with ZOE.
Primary outcomes include pain resolution and absence of clinical signs of infection. Secondary outcomes include radiographic success, clinical time, child behavior (Frankl Scale), need for retreatment, and oral health-related quality of life.
The findings are expected to provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of CTZ paste under real-world clinical conditions, contributing to the development of more accessible and effective protocols within public health systems, with the potential to expand access to conservative treatment and reduce early tooth extractions in pediatric dentistry.
Pulpal diseases in primary teeth remain a significant challenge in public health, particularly in emergency dental care settings. These environments are often characterized by limited clinical time, reduced child cooperation, and structural constraints, all of which may compromise the effectiveness and feasibility of conventional treatments. Pulpectomy using zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) is widely recognized as an effective treatment for necrotic primary teeth; however, its technical complexity and time requirements may limit its applicability in high-demand public healthcare systems.
In this context, non-instrumental endodontic treatment (NIET), based on the concept of Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair (LSTR), has been proposed as a simplified and less time-consuming alternative. This approach aims to disinfect the root canal system using antimicrobial pastes without mechanical instrumentation. Among these, CTZ paste has shown promising results due to its antimicrobial properties, ease of use, and potential for single-visit treatment, making it particularly suitable for emergency care scenarios.
The present study is designed to evaluate whether CTZ paste is non-inferior to conventional pulpectomy with ZOE in the treatment of primary molars diagnosed with pulp necrosis, with or without the presence of abscess or fistula, in emergency dental care settings.
This is a randomized, controlled, pragmatic, non-inferiority clinical trial conducted at a single center. Eligible participants will be children presenting with necrotic primary molars requiring urgent dental treatment. After enrollment, participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: (1) non-instrumental endodontic treatment using CTZ paste and (2) conventional pulpectomy using ZOE.
All procedures will be performed according to standardized clinical protocols. Clinical and radiographic evaluations will be conducted at baseline and at follow-up intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months. Blinded outcome assessment will be performed whenever feasible to minimize bias.
The primary outcomes of this study are pain resolution and the absence of clinical signs of infection, such as swelling, fistula, or pathological mobility. Secondary outcomes include radiographic success (e.g., absence or reduction of periapical/furcal radiolucency), total clinical time required for the procedure, child behavior during treatment assessed using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale, need for retreatment, and oral health-related quality of life.
This trial adopts a pragmatic design to reflect real-world clinical conditions, thereby enhancing the external validity and applicability of the findings. The results are expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of CTZ paste in public health settings. If non-inferiority is demonstrated, this approach may support the implementation of simplified, cost-effective, and scalable treatment protocols, contributing to improved access to conservative dental care and reducing the need for early extractions in pediatric populations.
156 studies on the registry are indexed under Dental Pulp Necrosis; 43 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 110 is above the median of 45 across 147 interventional studies indexed under Dental Pulp Necrosis.
Browse Dental Pulp Necrosis studies →University of Sao Paulo is the lead sponsor of 1,035 studies on the registry; 95 are open to participants now.
Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Compared within Dental Pulp Necrosis, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Dental Pulp Diseases. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
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Stage 1: Presence of bony crypt with no evidence of calcification; Stage 2: Initial calcification, with appearance of radiopaque points in the crown region; Stage 3: Approximately one-third of crown formation; Stage 4: Approximately two-thirds of crown formation; Stage 5: Crown almost complete, without full calcification; Stage 6: Crown completely formed, without initiation of root formation; Stage 7: Initial root formation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive non-instrumental endodontic treatment (NIET) using CTZ paste in a single visit for the management of necrotic primary molars in an emergency dental care setting.
Drug: CTZ Paste
Conventional pulpectomy involving mechanical instrumentation of root canals, irrigation, and obturation with zinc oxide-eugenol paste.
Procedure: ZOE Pulpectomy
CTZ paste is an antimicrobial intracanal medication used in non-instrumental endodontic treatment. The paste is placed into the pulp chamber without mechanical instrumentation, aiming to disinfect the root canal system based on the principles of lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR).
Conventional pulpectomy involving mechanical instrumentation of root canals, irrigation, and obturation with zinc oxide-eugenol paste.
Pain Resolution and Clinical Infection Control
Resolution of dental pain and absence of clinical signs of infection following emergency endodontic treatment in primary molars. Pain will be assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, a validated scale for measuring pain intensity in children. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst possible pain." Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity (worse outcome). Infection control will be determined by the absence of clinical signs such as swelling, fistula, abscess, or pathological mobility. The outcome will also consider the need for unplanned additional interventions as an indicator of treatment failure.
Time frame: Up to 7 days post-treatment (primary endpoint), with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Child Behaviour and Oral Health-Realated Quality of Life
The child's behavior and acceptance of the dental procedure during treatment will be assessed. Child behavior will be evaluated using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale, a validated four-point scale for assessing cooperation, where 1 indicates definitely negative behavior, 2 indicates negative behavior, 3 indicates positive behavior, and 4 indicates definitely positive behavior. Higher scores indicate more positive behavior (better outcome). In addition, clinical observation of cooperation, the need for behavioral management strategies, and overall acceptability of the procedure will be recorded. The impact of treatment on the child's and caregiver's quality of life will be assessed using validated oral health-related quality of life questionnaires, such as the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). ECOHIS total scores range from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate a greater negative impact on oral health-related quality of life (worse outcome). Subscores for Child Impact
Time frame: Baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No — Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be shared. The decision not to share IPD is based on ethical and regulatory considerations, as the study involves pediatric participants and includes potentially sensitive clinical data. Data confidentiality and participant privacy will be strictly maintained in accordance with applicable data protection regulations and institutional ethics committee requirements. Only aggregated data will be reported in scientific publications and presentations. No individual-level data will be made publicly available.
Start is estimated for Jun 2026; primary completion for Dec 2027, 18 months later.
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