Prostaglandin E2 in apical tissue fluid and postoperative pain in intact and teeth with large restorations in two endodontic treatment visits.

INTRODUCTION: Acute periapical inflammation is the most common cause of postoperative pain developing as a result of mechanical, chemical and/or microbial injury of periapical tissue. The major inflammatory event responsible for periapical pain is increased vasodilatation and vascular permeability, partly caused by prostaglandin E2, with consequent edema, which leads to the compression of nerve fibers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of prostaglandin E2 in apical tissue fluid after endodontic treatment of intact and teeth with large restorations and to compare it with the occurrence and intensity of postoperative pain. METHODS: Single-rooted teeth of 24 patients, selected for this study, were distributed into two groups: intact (group 1, n = 27) and asymptomatic teeth with large restorations (group 2, n = 20). Clinical examination of the involved teeth included the electric pulp test, recording pain on percussion, spontaneous pain, and a radiographic examination. Samples of apical tissues fluid were obtained from root canals at two treatment visits, and prostaglandin E2 concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay. Pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Prostaglandin E2 concentrations at the second visit, in teeth with large restorations, was significantly higher (36%) than at the first treatment visit (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p < 0.05). Occurrence and intensity of spontaneous pain after the first visit were significantly higher in group 2 (p < 0.05) than in group 1. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the increased prostaglandin E2 concentration, caused by endodontic treatment of teeth with large restorations, is well correlated with the intensity of postoperative pain.

Water uptake and solubility of Acroseal sealer in comparison with Apexit and AH Plus sealers in Hank's solution.

INTRODUCTION: The function of root canal fillings is to seal the root canal system. The important physical property necessary for sealers to achieve this is low solubility. However, any therapeutic effect of calcium hydroxide-based sealers is dependent on the calcium hydroxide being in ionized form, which implies that the material must be at least partly soluble. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to compare weight changes of Acroseal and Apexit, conventional calcium hydroxide-based sealer and AH Plus, epoxy-amine resin sealer in Hank's solution at different exposure times. METHODS: The standardized samples of each material were weighed and immersed in the Hank's solution for 1 h, 24 h, 96 h, 14 days and 28 days. After these exposure times, they were removed, dried, and weighed again. Mean weight changes were determined and the differences between sealers were-analysed statistically using a one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The highest differences in mass were observed in Apexit, 1.52%, and were significantly different from Acroseal, 0.93% (p<0.05) and AH Plus, 0.45% (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between Acroseal and AH Plus, except for 96 h period. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of our study, it may be concluded that the Acroseal sealer presented the behaviour more like epoxy-based material, AH Plus, than calcium hydroxide sealer, Apexit.