Clinical management of dens invaginatus type 3: a case report

Dens invagination [DI] is a developmental abnormality of teeth which frequently results in a complex internal anatomy of the root canal system. DI type 3 is an anomaly characterized by infolding of enamel and dentin extending into the root apex. This may present difficulties when forming a diagnosis and treatment plan. Many treatment modalities have been presented in case reports for DI type 3, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend a therapy. This case report presents the successful nonsurgical root canal treatment of a maxillary canine with an open apex DI type 3, necrotic pulp, and an associated large periradicular lesion

[Sealing ability assessment of pure ZOE, Roth 801 and AH26 sealers in the presence versus absence of smear layer]

Various root canal filling materials have been introduced in endodontic therapy, of which gutta-percha is the most common. Sealer is an essential component for obturation with gutta-percha. The aim of this study was to assess sealing ability of three sealers [pure ZOE, Roth 801, and AH26] using bacterial penetration method in an innovative system of flowing saliva in the presence or absence of the smear layer. The canals were prepared in 188 extracted human teeth. In half of the samples the smear layer was removed using 17% EDTA [ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid] and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. The specimens were randomly divided into three subgroups. The experimental groups were obturated with a single-cone of gutta-percha and one of the above-mentioned sealers [half without and half with the smear layer]. Then the teeth were placed in vials containing sterile TSB [Tripticase Soy Broth] culture media. All the samples were exposed to artificial flowing saliva with bacterial suspensions for 90 days. The turbidity of the culture media was checked and recorded daily. Data were analyzed using Factorial Analysis Variance and ANOVA. The longest and shortest mean periods of culture media turbidity were seen in the AH26 group without the smear layer [67.85 days] and in the pure ZOE sealer group with the smear layer [31.3 days], respectively. The results showed that removal of the smear layer enhances the sealing ability of sealers, especially in resin sealers such as AH26