Dental Nation
Material guide

Zinc Oxide Eugenol

In studies of pulpectomy in primary molars, zinc oxide eugenol had less favourable clinical and radiographic results than Endoflas at six and nine months.

[1][2]

The short answer

Zinc oxide eugenol is a root canal filling material studied in pulpectomy of deciduous teeth and compared with Endoflas.

[1][2]
Zinc Oxide Eugenol dental educational illustration

What is zinc oxide eugenol used for?

Study setting for zinc oxide eugenol
MaterialTreatment setting
Zinc oxide eugenolRoot canal filling material for pulpectomy in deciduous teeth.[1][2]
EndoflasMaterial compared with zinc oxide eugenol in the pulpectomy review.[1][2]

[1][2]

Does it reinforce a treated tooth?

A review of root canal sealers found moderate evidence that zinc oxide eugenol-based sealers did not reinforce endodontically treated teeth against fracture.

[1][2]
Fracture-resistance finding for zinc oxide eugenol sealers
Evidence detailFinding
Included sealer studiesTwenty studies were included after forty-eight were assessed for eligibility.[1][2]
Zinc oxide eugenol-based sealersModerate evidence favoured no reinforcing effect.[1][2]

[1][2]

Which teeth were included in the comparison?

The pulpectomy comparison included deciduous molar teeth in children, with 628 pulpectomies across the eligible studies.

[1][2]

What was it compared with?

Endoflas was the comparator material in the systematic review and meta-analysis of zinc oxide eugenol for pulpectomy in deciduous teeth.

[1][2]

What did the follow-up comparison find?

Compared with Endoflas, zinc oxide eugenol was associated with higher risk ratios for both clinical and radiographic evaluation at six and nine months.

[1][2]

What is the main limitation in the evidence?

The fracture-resistance review rated the included studies at medium or high risk of bias, and the zinc oxide eugenol finding did not show reinforcement.

[1][2]

Frequently asked questions

How many child pulpectomies were included in the zinc oxide eugenol comparison?

The eligible studies included 628 pulpectomies of deciduous molar teeth in children.

[1][2]