RESUMEN
Objectives@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of endodontic treatment on levels of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the saliva of patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis. @*Materials and Methods@#Twelve patients with mandibular molars with symptomatic apical periodontitis were enrolled in this study. An initial saliva sample was collected just before administration of anesthesia for root canal treatment, which was performed at the first visit. A second saliva sample was collected at a control visit 1 week after treatment. Salivary SP and CGRP levels were evaluated quantitatively using biochemical assays. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, the paired samples t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test (p = 0.05). @*Results@#The postoperative salivary level of SP was significantly lower than the preoperative level (p = 0.005). However, the postoperative salivary level of CGRP was similar to the preoperative level (p = 0.932). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients' subjective pain were found to be positively correlated with salivary levels of SP (r = 0.421; p = 0.040). No statistically significant correlations were observed between salivary levels of CGRP and VAS scores for patients' subjective percussion tenderness (p = 0.533) or VAS scores for patients' subjective pain (p = 0.459). @*Conclusions@#According to the results of the present study, salivary SP levels may be used as an objective indicator in the diagnosis and assessment of the degree of pain in endodontic diseases.
RESUMEN
Objectives@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of endodontic treatment on levels of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the saliva of patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis. @*Materials and Methods@#Twelve patients with mandibular molars with symptomatic apical periodontitis were enrolled in this study. An initial saliva sample was collected just before administration of anesthesia for root canal treatment, which was performed at the first visit. A second saliva sample was collected at a control visit 1 week after treatment. Salivary SP and CGRP levels were evaluated quantitatively using biochemical assays. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, the paired samples t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test (p = 0.05). @*Results@#The postoperative salivary level of SP was significantly lower than the preoperative level (p = 0.005). However, the postoperative salivary level of CGRP was similar to the preoperative level (p = 0.932). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients' subjective pain were found to be positively correlated with salivary levels of SP (r = 0.421; p = 0.040). No statistically significant correlations were observed between salivary levels of CGRP and VAS scores for patients' subjective percussion tenderness (p = 0.533) or VAS scores for patients' subjective pain (p = 0.459). @*Conclusions@#According to the results of the present study, salivary SP levels may be used as an objective indicator in the diagnosis and assessment of the degree of pain in endodontic diseases.
RESUMEN
Navigation of the main root canal and dealing with a dens invaginatus (DI) is a challenging task in clinical practice. Recently, the guided endodontics technique has become an alternative method for accessing root canals, surgical cavities, and calcified root canals without causing iatrogenic damage to tissue. In this case report, the use of the guided endodontics technique for two maxillary lateral incisors with multiple DIs is described. A 16-year-old female patient was referred with the chief complaint of pain and discoloured upper front teeth. Based on clinical and radiographic findings, a diagnosis of pulp necrosis and chronic periapical abscess associated with double DI (Oehler's type II) was established for the upper left lateral maxillary incisor (tooth #22). Root canal treatment and the sealing of double DI with mineral trioxide aggregate was planned for tooth #22. For tooth #12 (Oehler's type II), preventive sealing of the DI was planned. Minimally invasive access to the double DI and the main root canal of tooth #22, and to the DI of tooth #12, was achieved using the guided endodontics technique. This technique can be a valuable tool because it reduces chair-time and, more importantly, the risk of iatrogenic damage to the tooth structure.