Comparative success of platelet-rich fibrin and mineral trioxide aggregate in direct pulp capping and pulpotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

  • Malik Alkabazi Faculty of Dentistry Khalij-Libya, Tripoli, Libya
  • Ebtesam Aldieb Department of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/biid.v13.45302

Keywords:

vital pulp therapy, PRF, MTA

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical success rates of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) when used in pulp-capping and pulpotomy.

Materials and methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science was performed. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials with a minimum 6-month follow-up were included. The risk of bias was assessed using RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE.

Results: Nine studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The meta-analysis at 6 months (7 studies, 436 treated teeth) showed no significant difference between PRF and MTA (odds ratio [OR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29–1.78; P= 0.4799). At 12 months (7 studies, 352 treated teeth), the results also indicated no statistically significant difference (OR 1.50, 95% CI: 0.93–2.43; P= 0.0962), though the point estimate favored PRF.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, PRF and MTA demonstrate broadly similar clinical success rates in pulp-capping and pulpotomy over 6 and 12 months. The low certainty of evidence underscores the need for well-designed, larger randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up to more definitively establish their comparative long-term efficacy.

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Published

2026-01-21

How to Cite

Alkabazi, M., & Aldieb, E. (2026). Comparative success of platelet-rich fibrin and mineral trioxide aggregate in direct pulp capping and pulpotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry, 13(1), 29–39. https://doi.org/10.2340/biid.v13.45302