Endodontic Outcomes in Mandibular Second Premolars with Complex Apical Branching

Introduction

Mandibular premolars that have rare and complex anatomies may have the highest failure rate in nonsurgical endodontic treatment. Awareness of rare and complex anatomies of mandibular second premolars would aid in better outcomes of the treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the success of nonsurgical root canal treatment of mandibular second premolar teeth with complex apical branching.

Influence of remaining tooth structure and restorative material type on stress distribution in endodontically treated maxillary premolars: A finite element analysis

Statement of problem

How tooth preparation and material type affect the stress distribution of endodontically treated teeth restored with endocrowns remains unclear.

Clinical studies on core-carrier obturation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of core-carrier obturation in endodontic treatment.

Methods

Keywords of “(core carrier OR Thermafil) OR (cold lateral condensation OR lateral condensation) OR (warm vertical condensation OR vertical condensation) AND (obturation OR root canal filling) AND clinical study” were searched for all obtainable publications up to year 2017 in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science. The success rate, short-term postoperative pain, overfilling and adaptation of core-carrier obturation from clinical studies were selected. Reviews, laboratory studies, animal studies and irrelevant reports were excluded.

Results

1349 relevant articles were identified with 149 duplicated articles removed and 1173 irrelevant articles were excluded after screening. The titles and abstracts of the 19 identified articles were screened in the systematic review. The full texts of remaining articles were retrieved with data extracted for meta-analysis on the success rate, postoperative pain, overfilling and adaptation of obturation. The pooled success rate of core-carrier obturation was 83% (95% CI: 69%-91%). The pooled incidence of 1-day and 7-day short-term postoperative pain were 35% (95% CI: 15%-62%) and 6% (95% CI: 1-35%). The pooled proportion of teeth with overfilling and adequate adaptation of the obturation material were 31% (95% CI: 18%-50%) and 85% (95% CI: 75%-91%), respectively.

Conclusions

The success rate of endodontic treatment using core-carrier obturation was 83%. Short-term postoperative pain was not uncommon (24%). Most teeth (85%) had adequate adaptation using core-carrier obturation material, but a considerable amount of teeth (31%) had overfilling.

     

Reversal of soft-tissue anesthesia in asymptomatic endodontic patients: a preliminary, prospective, randomized, single-blind study

Introduction

Phentolamine has been reported to be an effective local anesthetic reversal agent for soft tissue but has not been studied in endodontics. The purpose of this preliminary, prospective, randomized, single-blind study was to evaluate the reversal of soft-tissue anesthesia using phentolamine in asymptomatic endodontic patients.

Methods

Eighty-five adult subjects having a maxillary or mandibular asymptomatic tooth requiring endodontic therapy received either phentolamine or sham treatment(s) at the end of the endodontic treatment appointment. Soft-tissue anesthesia was monitored by subjects every 15 minutes for 5 hours. Subjects reported postoperative injection site pain and tooth pain using a Heft-Parker visual analog score every 30 minutes for the first 2 postoperative hours and every hour for 3 hours.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference in time to return-to-normal sensation for the maxillary lip/cheek and mandibular lip. Subjects who received phentolamine experienced an 88-minute decrease in time to return-to-normal maxillary lip/cheek sensation and a 47-minute decrease in time to return-to-normal mandibular lip sensation. The administration of phentolamine was not significantly more painful than administration of a sham treatment, and patients who received phentolamine did not experience significantly more postoperative pain at the injection site. Postoperative complications were minimal, and no clinically significant adverse reactions to the phentolamine were reported.

Conclusions

Phentolamine would be beneficial for asymptomatic endodontic patients who would like to experience a faster return-to-normal soft-tissue function and sensation after the administration of local anesthesia.     

Treatment of a Large Cystlike Inflammatory Periapical Lesion Associated with Mature Necrotic Teeth Using Regenerative Endodontic Therapy

Introduction

Regenerative endodontic therapy is currently used to treat immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulp and/or apical periodontitis. However, mature teeth with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis have also been treated using regenerative endodontic therapy. The treatment resulted in resolution of apical periodontitis, regression of clinical signs and symptoms but no apparent thickening of the canal walls, and/or continued root development. A recent study in an animal model showed that the tissues formed in the canals of mature teeth with apical periodontitis after regenerative endodontic therapy were cementumlike, bonelike, and periodontal ligament–like tissue with numerous blood vessels. These tissues are similar to the tissues observed in immature permanent teeth with apical periodontitis after regenerative endodontic therapy.

Methods

A 23-year-old woman had a history of traumatic injury to her upper anterior teeth when she was 8 years old. Subsequently, #8 developed pulp necrosis and an acute apical abscess and #7 symptomatic apical periodontitis. The apex of #8 was slightly open, and the apex of #7 was completely formed. Instead of nonsurgical root canal therapy, regenerative endodontic therapy was attempted, including complete chemomechanical debridement on #8 and #7. This was based on the premise that filling of disinfected root canals with the host's biological vital tissue might be better than filling with foreign materials.

Results

After regenerative endodontic therapy of #8 and #7, there was radiographic evidence of periapical osseous healing and regression of clinical signs and symptoms. The pulp cavity of #8 decreased in size, and the apex closed. The pulp cavity of #7 appeared to be obliterated by mineralized tissue. These indicated ingrowth of new vital tissue into the chemomechanically debrided canals.

Conclusions

Regenerative endodontic therapy of mature teeth with apical periodontitis and apical abscess can result in the regression of clinical signs and/or symptoms and healing of apical periodontitis but no apparent thickening of the canal walls or continued root development. Filling of the disinfected canals with the host's vital tissue may be better than with foreign materials because vital tissue has innate and adaptive immune defense mechanisms.     

Is Pulp Regeneration Necessary for Root Maturation?

Introduction

True regeneration of the dental pulp-dentin complex in immature teeth with necrotic pulps has not been shown histologically. It is not known to what extent this true tissue regeneration is necessary to achieve clinically acceptable outcomes.

Methods

This case report describes the treatment of a patient with an immature maxillary right central incisor with a history of impact trauma and enamel-dentin crown fracture. A diagnosis of pulp necrosis with acute apical abscess was established. A regenerative endodontic protocol that used a paste containing Augmentin for 5 weeks as an intracanal medicament was used.

Results

Follow-ups at 9, 12, 17, and 31 months revealed complete osseous healing of the periapical lesion and formation of the root apex, but without increase in root length. Clinically, the tooth was functional, asymptomatic, and nonresponsive to pulp vitality tests. The crown discolored over time. On reentering the root canal, no tissues were observed under magnification inside the root canal space. The root canal treatment was completed with mineral trioxide aggregate obturation.

Conclusions

Augmentin might be an acceptable choice for root canal disinfection in regenerative endodontic procedures. The protocol for regenerative endodontic treatment is not predictable for pulp-dentin regeneration. Formation of the root apex is possible without pulp regeneration.     

Resolution of maxillary sinus mucositis after endodontic treatment of maxillary teeth with apical periodontitis: a cone-beam computed tomography pilot study

Introduction

Apical periodontitis (AP) is an inflammatory response that can affect the maxillary sinus. This study characterized maxillary sinus mucositis adjacent to teeth with AP and assessed its resolution after endodontic treatment.

Methods

Thirty maxillary sinuses in subjects (n = 29) who had AP associated with maxillary posterior teeth were imaged with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). When mucositis was detected, its resolution was assessed with CBCT scanning 3 months after treatment, and periapical healing was assessed using the periapical index (PAI) after 6 months.

Results

Excluding 5 sinuses obscured by sinusitis, mucositis was detected in 14 of 25 sinuses (56%). Nonsignificant inverse association was observed between the mucosal lining thickness and the distance from the sinus to root apices with AP. Four noncompliant subjects were discontinued. Three months after treatment, mucositis was fully resolved in 3 of 10 subjects (30%), partially resolved in 3 of 10 subjects (30%), unchanged in 3 of 10 subjects (30%), and worsened in 1 subject (10%). Six months after treatment, 6 of 10 subjects (60%) had reduced PAI scores classified as healed or healing. The subject with expanded mucositis at 3 months was not healing at 6 months.

Conclusions

Within the limited sample of this pilot study, CBCT imaging revealed a lower-than-expected prevalence of mucositis adjacent to teeth with AP. Fully resolved mucositis was not common 3 months after endodontic treatment, suggesting that in specific cases it might linger beyond 3 months after the elimination of the endodontic infection. Because of the low statistical power, the association between the resolution of mucositis and periapical healing could not be explored.     

Comparative micro-computed tomographic evaluation of two carrier-based obturation systems

Objectives

The aim of the study was to measure the percentage of volume of voids and gaps in the apical third of root canals obturated with two techniques using micro-computed tomography.

Materials and methods

Fifty-four single-rooted teeth were collected and root canal-prepared. The roots were randomly allocated into two groups; each group was obturated by using thermoplasticized technique with a different material (gutta-percha and Topseal for Thermafil, Resilon and RealSeal for RealSeal 1). Roots were then scanned, and volume measurements for voids and gaps in the obturated roots were carried out using specialized CT software. Percentage of gaps and voids was calculated.

Results

The present study showed that none of the root canal-filled teeth was gap free. Student t test was conducted. No significant difference was found between Thermafil and RealSeal 1 concerning percentage of voids in the apical third (P?>?0.05). Both materials showed statistically significant difference between the levels where 1 mm showed the highest volume of voids (P?<?0.05).

Conclusions

Both carrier-based techniques allowed a good sealing ability in root canals but none of the materials was gap free. Statistically significant difference between the levels was found and 1 mm showed the highest volume of voids.

Clinical relevance

This study shows the efficiency of carrier-based obturation systems in filling root canals hermetically. It compares new adhesive endodontic materials with the traditional gold standard gutta-percha. Results show the good sealing ability of both techniques making them appropriate to use in daily endodontic obturations.     

Analysis of reasons for extraction of endodontically treated teeth: a prospective study

Introduction

The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the factors related to extraction of endodontically treated teeth.

Methods

One hundred nineteen cases of extraction of endodontically treated teeth were consecutively reviewed, and the following items were recorded: type of tooth; presence and type of coronal restoration; motive of consultation; reasons for extraction; patient’s age, gender, level of education; smoking status. Association between factors was investigated with χ² analysis.

Results

Dental pain was the main motive for consultation (68.9%). The teeth most extracted were mandibular molars (51.3%), followed by maxillary molars (16.1%). First molars were the most frequently extracted (29.4%). Ninety-one teeth (76.5%) were restored coronally with or without post, and crowned teeth represented 5.9% of the sample. The reasons for extraction were periodontal disease (40.3%), endodontic failure (19.3%), vertical root fracture (13.4%), nonrestorable cuspid and crown fracture (15.1%), nonrestorable caries (5.2%), iatrogenic perforations and stripping (4.2%), and prosthetic (0.8%). Analysis between gender, smoking status, and education level showed no significant difference for reasons of extraction (P = .33 and .34).

Conclusions

The mandibular first molar without crown was the most frequently extracted tooth. The main reasons for extractions were periodontal disease, endodontic failure, and nonrestorable tooth damage caused by fracture or caries.     

Mental nerve paresthesia associated with endodontic paste within the mandibular canal: report of a case

The present study describes a case of endodontic paste (Endomethasone) penetration within and along the mandibular canal from the periapical zone of a lower first premolar following endodontic treatment of the latter. The clinical manifestations comprised anesthesia of the right side of the lower lip and paresthesia of the gums in the fourth quadrant, appearing immediately after endodontic treatment. The lip anesthesia was seen to decrease, with persistence of the gingival paresthesia, after 7 months.     

Mesoporous Calcium Silicate Nanoparticles with Drug Delivery and Odontogenesis Properties

Introduction

Calcium silicate (CS) –based materials play an important role in the development of endodontic materials that induce bone/cementum tissue regeneration and inhibit bacterial viability. The aim of this study was to prepare novel mesoporous CS (MesoCS) nanoparticles that have osteogenic, drug delivery, and antibacterial characteristics for endodontic materials and also have an excellent ability to develop apatite mineralization.

Evaluation of the quality of different endodontic obturation techniques by digital radiography

Objectives

This study was aimed to evaluate different endodontic obturation techniques (Thermafil, lateral condensation, and Tagger’s hybrid technique) regarding the homogeneity of the obturation radiopacity.

Materials and methods

Seventy roots of human upper central incisors were filled using the Thermafil system, lateral condensation. and Tagger’s hybrid technique. Radiopacity of the filling was evaluated based on mean of grey levels, and its homogeneity was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV), analyzing the histograms obtained of digitized and digital radiographs.

Results

The increase in mean grey levels (p?<?0.001) and reduction in the CV (p?<?0.05) were higher for Tagger’s hybrid technique compared with other methods.

Conclusions

Tagger’s hybrid technique provided better homogeneity of the obturation radiopacity and better apical sealing compared with lateral condensation technique.

Clinical relevance

The results suggest that Tagger’s hybrid technique provided the best compaction of the root canal filling material, an important factor for the sealing of obturations and, consequently, for the effectiveness of treatment.     

Esthetic perception of changes in facial profile resulting from orthodontic treatment with extraction of premolars: A systematic review

Background

The authors conducted a systematic review to assess changes in patients’ facial profiles resulting from orthodontic treatment with and without extraction of 4 premolars and to identify cephalometric parameters that can assist decision making in borderline cases.

Management of 2 Teeth Diagnosed with Dens Invaginatus with Regenerative Endodontics and Apexification in the Same Patient: A Case Report and Review

Introduction

This review and case report present the treatment of a 10-year-old boy with both permanent maxillary lateral incisors demonstrating Oehlers type II dens invaginatus and pulpal involvement. Treatment was complicated by dental anxiety, supraventricular tachycardia, immature tooth development, and facial cellulitis.

Methods

An infected necrotic pulp of the permanent maxillary left lateral incisor was treated by apexification and endodontic treatment with mineral trioxide aggregate. The necrotic pulp of the permanent maxillary right lateral incisor was treated with canal debridement and dressing under general anesthesia.

Results

Periapical healing of both teeth occurred, with the right lateral incisor showing continued root growth, thickening of the dentinal root walls, and completed apex formation. This tooth responded normally to pulp testing. Twenty-eight months after initial treatment, the right lateral incisor displayed progressive sclerosis of the canal.

Conclusions

This case demonstrates possible pulpal regeneration of an infected maxillary right lateral incisor with dens invaginatus and an immature apex after minimal canal debridement.     

Influenza del microscopio operatorio nella diagnosi intraoperatoria e nel ritrattamento chirurgico endodontico: studio clinico e radiografico con follow-up a un anno

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to assess under the operative microscope the causes of the failure of previous apicoectomies and to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of surgical endodontic retreatment after 1 year.

Materials and methods

The cut root surface of 40 teeth, before retreatment, was coloured and analyzed using the Operative Microscope. The healing was classified as success, uncertain healing and failure.

Results

The analysis of the cut surface showed incomplete apical sections, angles cutting > 30°, isthmuses not involved in the preparation, microfractures and second apices not treated. At the 1-year follow up, success was 85%, and uncertain healing was 15%.

Conclusions

The Operating Microscope is a valid support for the intraoperative diagnosis and offers an increase in the precision during surgery, allowing high success rates.     

Surgical treatment of painful inferior alveolar nerve injuries following endodontic treatment: a consecutive case series of seven patients

Purpose

Injuries of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) related to endodontic treatment are being increasingly reported. However, consensus on the preferred intervention and the timing of and indications for surgical treatment is lacking. Here, we describe our experience with painful IAN injuries arising from endodontic treatment and requiring prompt microsurgical treatment.

Methods

Seven consecutive patients with painful IAN injuries were referred to the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of San Paolo Hospital in Milan. All patients had undergone root canals endodontic treatment in the mandibular molar or premolar between 2007 and 2014. The time elapsed between injury and referral for surgical treatment ranged from 10 days to 20 months. Each patient was treated by one of several different microsurgical procedures, described herein.

Results

Overall, neurosensory status and IAN-related pain improved in all seven patients. The best results were obtained by IAN replacement with a sural nerve graft. However, complete sensory recovery was not achieved in any of the patients.

Conclusions

Although our sample includes only seven patients, early surgical treatment with an interpositional sural nerve graft seems to allow neurosensory recovery. Less satisfactory results are achieved in patients with IAN injuries of > 12 months duration.

     

Infection in a Complex Network of Apical Ramifications as the Cause of Persistent Apical Periodontitis: A Case Report

Introduction

This article reports a case of persistent apical periodontitis lesion in a mesiobuccal root of a maxillary molar subjected to single-visit endodontic treatment.

Methods

The treatment protocol followed endodontic standards including using nickel-titanium instruments with working length ending 0.5-mm short of the apex, establishment and maintenance of apical foramen patency, irrigation with 5% NaOCl, smear layer removal, a final rinse with and ultrasonic agitation of chlorhexidine, and filling by the vertical compaction technique. Even so, the lesion in the mesiobuccal root became larger in size after follow-up examination at 1 year 6 months, and periradicular surgery was performed. Radiographic control after 11 months showed that periradicular healing was almost complete. The root apex and the lesion were analyzed histologically and histobacteriologically.

Results

The lesion was diagnosed as a “pocket cyst,” and no bacteria were noted extraradicularly. The cause of continued disease was a heavy bacterial biofilm infection located in an intricate network of apical ramifications. Bacteria were also observed on the walls of one of the mesiobuccal canals packed between the obturation material and the root canal wall.

Conclusions

This case report reinforces the need for treating the infected root canal as a complex system that possesses anatomic intricacies in which bacteria can spread and remain unaffected by treatment procedures.     

Long-term survival of endodontically treated,maxillary anterior teeth restored with either tapered or parallel-sided glass-fiber posts and full-ceramic crown coverage

Objectives

This retrospective study investigated the clinical effectiveness over up to 8 years of parallel-sided and of tapered glass-fiber posts, in combination with either hybrid composite or dual-cure composite resin core material, in endodontically treated, maxillary anterior teeth covered with full-ceramic crowns.

Methods

The study population comprised 192 patients and 526 endodontically treated teeth, with various degrees of hard-tissue loss, restored by the post-and-core technique. Four groups were defined based on post shape and core build-up materials, and within each group post-and-core restorations were assigned randomly with respect to root morphology. Inclusion criteria were symptom-free endodontic therapy, root-canal treatment with a minimum apical seal of 4 mm, application of rubber dam, need for post-and-core complex because of coronal tooth loss, and tooth with at least one residual coronal wall. Survival rate of the post-and-core restorations was determined using Kaplan–Meier statistical analysis.

Results

The restorations were examined clinically and radiologically; mean observation period was 5.3 years. The overall survival rate of glass-fiber post-and-core restorations was 98.5%. The survival rate for parallel-sided posts was 98.6% and for tapered posts was 96.8%. Survival rates for core build-up materials were 100% for dual-cure composite and 96.8% for hybrid light-cure composite.

Conclusions

For both glass-fiber post designs and for both core build-up materials, clinical performance was satisfactory. Survival was higher for teeth retaining four and three coronal walls.     

Healing of Apical Periodontitis after Nonsurgical Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the success of primary root canal treatment between type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients and to investigate the effect of periapical healing on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetic patients with apical periodontitis.