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

## TL;DR

This study compares the effectiveness of PRF and MTA in dental pulp treatments and finds they have similar success rates.

## Contribution

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing PRF and MTA in pulp-capping and pulpotomy.

## Key findings

- PRF and MTA showed similar clinical success rates at 6 months.
- At 12 months, PRF slightly favored but not statistically significant.
- Low certainty of evidence highlights the need for larger trials.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.