ABSTRACT
If root fractures remain undetected, pulp necrosis will occur in 25% of cases leading to eventual tooth loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of digital phosphor plates using pseudo-color enhancement for detection of horizontal root fractures in single-rooted teeth. Eighty-two human single-rooted teeth were evaluated [41 with no horizontal fracture and 41 with horizontal fractures]. Digital intraoral imaging plate system. [Digora[registered sign] Optime PSP System, Soredex] was used to obtain 16-bit gray scale images. Five 16-bit images were obtained from each specimen and saved [one original and four with pseudo-color enhancement]. Four observers evaluated the images twice with a 2- week interval. Accuracy, positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV], specificity and sensitivity for each observer and each image group were calculated. The diagnostic sensitivities were not significantly different among the five images [P absolute=0.125, P complete=0.170]. But, statistically significant differences were found in the diagnostic specificity [P absolute=0.019, P complete=0.016] among the five views. Cool and Summer views had higher diagnostic specificity than Bone, Copper and Original views [P=0.025]. Kappa and Weighted Kappa values showed statistically significant differences for intra- and inter-observer reliability in the five views [P=0.032]. Both Cool and Summer views were suitable for detection of horizontal root fractures and had statistically significant differences with the original view
ABSTRACT
Statement of Problem: Determining the appropriate Working Length [WL] is an important factor in the success of root canal therapy. Several methods are available for this purpose but radiography is the mostly used one
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the conventional and self -developing films with a Gold standard in estimation of the working length
Materials and Method: In this descriptive study, radiographs were obtained with conventional and self-developing films from 45 mesiobuccal maxillary molar root canals which were mounted on a phantom head. Conventional films were processed automatically and self-developing films manually in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. The radiographs were examined by three endodontologists and one oral and maxillofacial radiologist under doubleblind conditions. Actual working lengths were measured on each tooth [Gold standard] and then measurements from each film type were compared together and against the Gold Standard. The data were analyzed using t-test and paired t-test
Results: The average difference in WL between the conventional and self-developing films measured against the Gold standard was 0.33 mm and 0.14 mm, respectively. No significant difference was found between these two types of films and the Gold standard [p =0.06 and p =0.7, respectively]. Also, there was no significant difference between these two types of films for estimation of the working length [p =0.4]
Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between these two types of films, the assessment shows that self-developing films produced more accurate results in estimation of the working length. It is concluded that in the absence of dark room and processing solutions, self-developing films can be suitably used instead of conventional films
ABSTRACT
An adequate film thickness is an important property of an endodontic sealer, when used in combination with gutta-percha, ensuring an hermetic three- dimensional root canal obturation. Film thickness also affects the sealing ability of scalers. The aim of the present study was to compare the film thickness of the following five root canal scalers: RSA, Topseal, 2SeaI, AH26 and Acroseal in Islamic Mad University at 2006. In this experimental study all root canal scalers were mixed following mixing procedures advised by manufacturers. A small amount of sealer was placed between two glass plates and a load of 200 gr was applied vertically on the top glass plates for 10 minutes. After setting, the thickness of scalers was measured with a set of digital calipers accurate to 0.01mm. The procedure was repeated ten times for each sealer[n=10]. The all data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. The mean film thickness [mm] were respectively: AH26=0.36 +/- 0.020, Acroseal=0.37 +/- 0.019 Topseal= 0.41 +/- 0.014, 2Seal=0.38 +0.014 RSA=0.040 +/- 0.018 AH26, 2SeaI and Acroseal showed We best results, but differences among the three groups of scalers were not statistically different. RSA and Topseal showed the highest film thickness and a statistically significant difference was noted among these scalers and the others, hut difference among RSA and Topseal was not statistically different. All root canal scalers had acceptable film thickness, but AH26 showed the least film thickness