Methodological quality of umbrella reviews in endodontics: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: In endodontics, the number of umbrella reviews has increased significantly over the last few years, but there is no evidence that they were methodologically sound. The aim of the current study was to appraise the methodological quality of umbrella reviews in endodontics, and to identify possible predictive factors associated with methodological quality. METHODS: Umbrella reviews published in the discipline of endodontics until December 2023 were included. The methodological quality of the reviews was evaluated using a checklist consisting of 11 items. Each item in the checklist was evaluated by two independent assessors who assigned a score of '1' if it was fully addressed, '0.5' if it was partially ddressed, and '0' if it was not addressed. Bootstrapped multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between the total scores awarded and five predictor variables (a priori protocol registration, year of publication, number of authors, journal impact factor (IF) and continent of the corresponding author). The statistical significance level was set as 5%. RESULTS: A total of 27 reviews were included. Ninety-six per cent of the reviews adequately reported: eligibility criteria for selecting the reviews, details of the reviews, techniques for assessing the risk of bias or methodological quality of the individual systematic reviews they included. Only 30% of the reviews adequately managed overlapping primary studies within individual systematic reviews. Among the five predictors analysed, a priori protocol registration and journals with IFs were associated with significantly greater total methodological quality scores. DISCUSSION: Several methodological shortcomings in the umbrella reviews published within the field of endodontics were revealed. Umbrella reviews published in journals with IFs and those with protocols registered a priori had significantly superior methodological quality scores. CONCLUSION: In endodontics, authors intending to publish umbrella reviews should consider the limitations revealed in this study and follow the appropriate rules to ensure their reviews comply with the highest standards and provide accurate and dependable information and conclusions.

Influence of endodontic access cavity design on mechanical properties of a first mandibular premolar tooth: a finite element analysis study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the influence of access cavity designs on the mechanical properties of a single-rooted mandibular first premolar tooth under various static loads using a finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3-dimensional FEA designs were modeled according to the access cavity designs: an intact tooth (control), traditional access cavity (TEC-I), traditional access cavity with Class-II mesio-occlusal cavity design (TEC-II), conservative access cavity (CEC), ninja access cavity (NEC), caries-driven access cavity (Cd-EC), buccal access cavity (BEC) and bucco-occlusal access cavity (BOEC). After the simulated access cavity preparations, root canal treatment was simulated and three different static loads which mimicked oblique and vertical mastication forces were applied to the models. The stress distribution and maximum Von Misses stress values were recorded. The maximum stress values were obtained on both enamel and dentin under multi-point vertical loads. RESULTS: The maximum stress values were obtained on both enamel and dentin under multi-point vertical loads. Under all load types, the minimum stress distribution was observed in the control group, followed by CEC, NEC and BEC designs. The highest stress concentration was detected in Cd-EC and TEC-II designs. Under single-point vertical loading, the stress was mostly concentrated in the lingual PCD area, while under multi-point vertical loading, the entire root surface was stress-loaded except for the lingual apical third of the root. CONCLUSION: Preserving tooth tissue by simulating CEC, NEC and BEC access cavities increased the load capacity of a single-rooted mandibular first premolar following simulated endodontic treatment.

Endodontic Applications of Propolis in Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Scoping Review of Clinical Studies.

OBJECTIVE: The use of propolis-based materials within endodontics to promote pulp wound healing or disinfect the root canal system has been a recent focus of scientists and clinicians. This is mainly because of the well-documented antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and wound healing properties of propolis. This scoping review critically appraises the literature on the clinical applications of propolis-based compounds during endodontic therapy of primary and permanent teeth. METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science up to and including October 2023 to identify studies assessing the use of propolis during endodontic therapy of primary and permanent teeth. A combination of relevant MeSh terms and keywords was used. Only human clinical studies written in English were included. The identified manuscripts were screened and assessed for inclusion by two independent authors. Eligible manuscripts were then subjected to critical appraisal and data extraction with the information being summarised according to their clinical application. RESULTS: A total of 26 human clinical studies were identified and included in the analysis. Propolis was investigated for use in the primary and permanent dentitions as a direct pulp capping or pulpotomy material as well as in root canal disinfection and root filling of teeth with non-vital pulps. Overall, the studies reported that the use of propolis was associated with promising outcomes in terms of efficacy to control inflammation, enhance tissue repair, and disinfection of the root canal system. However, a critical appraisal of the studies revealed a range of methodological and reporting deficiencies, resulting in unreliable results and conclusions in terms of the clinical outcomes reported. CONCLUSION: Although the studies on the use of propolis-based materials in endodontics reported promising clinical outcomes, they had a range of methodological and reporting flaws. Further well-designed and properly reported controlled clinical studies are essential to derive sound evidence-based conclusions on propolis-based materials. Furthermore, guidelines for quality assurance and safe use of propolis-based materials are necessary to enhance their production for commercial use in endodontics.

A retrospective clinical study to compare the ability of cone-beam computed tomographic images and periapical radiographs to reveal cracked teeth, split teeth, and teeth with vertical root fractures.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective clinical study aimed to compare the sensitivity of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images and periapical (PA) radiographs to reveal cracked teeth, split teeth, and teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs). METHODS: The authors included 98 patients (98 teeth) diagnosed with a longitudinal tooth fracture (LTF) (cracked tooth, split tooth, VRF) through direct visualization after extraction and with comprehensive clinical and radiographic records. They collected demographic, clinical, and radiographic data. The authors evaluated PA radiographs and CBCT images to identify fractures, fracture lines, and the different patterns of bone loss associated with these teeth. They used the McNemar test to compare PA radiographs and CBCT scans when assessing bone loss. They used the Fisher test to determine statistical relationships between fracture types and demographic, clinical, and radiologic traits. They used an analysis of variance test to compare patient age with fracture types. RESULTS: CBCT images were significantly more effective (P < .05) in detecting bone loss patterns associated with LTFs than with PA radiographs, with 71% of cases detected via CBCT images compared with 42% via radiographs. Mean age was significantly greater (P < .05) in patients with teeth with VRFs than in patients with split teeth. A significant relationship was observed between the type of fracture and the following variables: root canal treatment (split, VRF, P = .002), deep probing depth (≥ 5 mm) (VRF, P = .026), and having more than 8 teeth extracted from the mouth (VRF, P = .032). Overall, there was a significant difference (P < .001) between the visualization of fracture lines (45% on PA radiographs, 65% on CBCT images). CONCLUSIONS: CBCT scans provided more information on LTFs than PA radiographs, particularly in the identification of periradicular bone changes. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: CBCT imaging can assist in making the clinical diagnosis of LTFs through observation of bone loss patterns, providing more information than PA radiographs.

PRIDASE 2024 guidelines for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies in endodontics: A consensus-based development.

Studies investigating the accuracy of diagnostic tests should provide data on how effectively they identify or exclude disease in order to inform clinicians responsible for managing patients. This consensus-based project was undertaken to develop reporting guidelines for authors submitting manuscripts, which describe studies that have evaluated the accuracy of diagnostic tests in endodontics. These guidelines are known as the Preferred Reporting Items for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies in Endodontics (PRIDASE) 2024 guidelines. A nine-member steering committee created an initial checklist by integrating and modifying items from the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) 2015 checklist and the Clinical and Laboratory Images in Publications (CLIP) principles, as well as adding a number of new items specific to the specialty of endodontics. Thereafter, the steering committee formed the PRIDASE Delphi Group (PDG) and the PRIDASE Online Meeting Group (POMG) in order to collect expert feedback on the preliminary draft checklist. Members of the Delphi group engaged in an online Delphi process to reach consensus on the clarity and suitability of the items in the checklist. The online meeting group then held an in-depth discussion on the online Delphi-generated items via the Zoom platform on 20 October 2023. According to the feedback obtained, the steering committee revised the PRIDASE checklist, which was then piloted by several authors when preparing manuscripts describing diagnostic accuracy studies in endodontics. Feedback from this process resulted in the final version of the PRIDASE 2024 checklist, which has 11 sections and 66 items. Authors are encouraged to use the PRIDASE 2024 guidelines when developing manuscripts on diagnostic accuracy in endodontics in order to improve the quality of reporting in this area. Editors of relevant journals will be invited to include these guidelines in their instructions to authors.

Restoration of Teeth with Severely Compromised Tooth Structure using Digital Planning Combined with Orthodontic Magnetic Extrusion-A Report of 2 Cases.

This report outlines 2 digitally planned cases in which the teeth underwent magnetic extrusion to preserve the supracrestal tissue attachment and regain the ferrule, followed by their restoration. Case 1: A 42-year-old man with the chief concern of a fractured right maxillary second premolar. Following the completion of root canal treatment, the remaining tooth structure was insufficient to create a ferrule for tooth restoration. For this scenario, a rapid magnetic extrusion technique was performed on tooth #4 to obtain an approximate 3-mm ferrule. The condition of both the dentition and the restorative margin was acceptable 18 months following treatment. Case 2: A 62-year-old man with the chief complaint of mobility on both sides of the maxillary arch in relation to a tooth-supported fixed partial denture (FPD). Following removal of the FPD, multiple extractions were carried out and tooth #6 was subjected to magnetic extrusion in 3 stages to a maximum of 4 mm to obtain a ferrule. At the 18-month and 3-year follow-up appointments, the tooth had no symptoms and the gingiva around the restorations had optimal architecture and margins. The 3-dimensional digital planning was helpful in precisely positioning the magnets within the tooth and the provisional restorations to facilitate axial extrusion. The extruded teeth were restored with zirconia crowns in both cases. The beneficial outcomes observed from these cases provides evidence that the integration of digital planning and magnetic extrusion holds promise as a method for reconstructing teeth with crowns that are significantly compromised.

Exposure to and Biomarker Responses From Legacy and Emerging Contaminants Along Three Drainages in the Milwaukee Estuary, Wisconsin, USA.

Legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) were assessed in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) tissue and diet samples from three drainages in the Milwaukee estuary, Wisconsin, USA, to understand exposures and possible biomarker responses. Two remote Wisconsin lakes were assessed for comparative purposes. Bioaccumulative classes of contaminants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, while at higher concentrations than the reference lakes, did not vary significantly among sites or among the three drainages. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were assessed in diet and sediment and were from primarily pyrogenic sources. Ten biomarkers were assessed relative to contaminant exposure. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were elevated above reference conditions at all Milwaukee sites but did not correlate with any measured biomarker responses. Only one site, Cedarburg, just downstream from a Superfund site, had elevated PCBs compared to other sites in the Milwaukee estuary. Few non-organochlorine insecticides or herbicides were detected in tree swallow liver tissue, except for the atrazine metabolite desethylatrazine. Few pharmaceuticals and personal care products were detected in liver tissue except for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, iopamidol, and two antibiotics. The present study is one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, along with the previously published Maumee River data, on the exposure and effects of a wide variety of CECs in birds. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:856-877. © 2024 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Propolis Use in Dentistry: A Narrative Review of Its Preventive and Therapeutic Applications.

Propolis is a resinous substance produced naturally by bees, and it consists of the exudates of plants mixed with enzymes, wax, and pollen. Propolis continues to gain considerable scientific interest due to its potential health benefits. The modern-day use of propolis in pharmaceutical preparations, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewable tablets, mucoadhesive gels, and sprays, is increasing. However, the effectiveness of using propolis-containing pharmaceuticals in dentistry is not clear. The present paper aims to review the literature on the dental applications of propolis in preventive dentistry, periodontics, oral medicine, and restorative dentistry and discuss its clinical effectiveness. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. In total, 104 studies were included, of which 46 were laboratory studies, 5 animal studies, and 53 human clinical studies. Overall, the laboratory studies revealed a range of antimicrobial effects of propolis on oral pathogens. Clinical investigations of propolis in biofilm and dental caries control as well as adjuvant periodontal therapies reported positive outcomes in terms of plaque control, pathogenic microbial count reduction, and periodontal tissue inflammation control. Additional investigations included the use of propolis for the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, oral mucositis, and cavity disinfection after caries removal as well as the development of a range of restorative dental materials. Based on the reported outcomes of the studies, the clinical usage of propolis has potential. However, the majority of the evidence is derived from studies with flaws in their methodological design, making their results and conclusions questionable. As a consequence, properly designed and well-reported clinical studies are required to affirm the effectiveness of propolis for dental applications. Additionally, the safety of propolis and the optimal concentrations and extraction methods for its clinical use warrant further investigation. Utilisation of standardised propolis extracts will help in quality control of propolis-based products and lead to the achievement of reproducible outcomes in research studies.

A laboratory study comparing the static navigation technique using a bur with a conventional freehand technique using ultrasonic tips for the removal of fibre posts.

AIM: There are currently no high-quality studies comparing the static navigation technique with conventional methods of fibre post removal. The aim of this ex vivo study was to compare the effectiveness of fibre post removal between a static navigation technique and a conventional freehand technique using ultrasonics by experienced and inexperienced operators. METHODOLOGY: Forty-eight extracted single-rooted human premolars were root-filled. A fibre post was cemented in all 48 teeth, which were then divided randomly into the following groups: static navigation group using burs; static navigation-ultrasonic group; and non-guided group using ultrasonic tips. The following parameters were evaluated for both experienced operators and inexperienced operators: reaching the gutta-percha root filling successfully, the time required to remove the entire post, the occurrence of lateral root perforations, and the amount of root dentine removed. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine the normality of the data; the anova test was used to compare the significant differences among groups; and Tukey tests were used for all two-by-two comparisons. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: In the static navigation group, the gutta-percha was reached significantly more frequently than in the non-guided group (p < .05). The static navigation approach required significantly less time than the non-guided approach to reach the gutta-percha (p < .05). The total removal of posts was significantly different between groups (p < .05), but there was no significant difference between experienced and inexperienced operators in the static navigation group (p > .05). More perforations were associated with the non-guided group than with the other two groups. The total mean loss of dentine in the non-guided group in all directions was 0.39 (±0.17) mm, with 0.25 (±0.09) mm for experienced, and 0.42 (±0.16) mm for inexperienced operators. CONCLUSION: When compared to a conventional ultrasonic technique for the removal of fibre posts, the static navigation method using burs resulted in less dentine removal, more rapid access to the gutta-percha root filling, less overall time to remove the posts, and fewer complications. When using static navigation, there was no difference in performance between experienced and inexperienced operators.

Guided Autotransplantation of an Immature Premolar to the Maxillary Incisor Region with Immediate Restoration of Esthetics: A Case Report.

This case report describes the treatment of two maxillary central incisors following a traumatic injury with tooth #8 developing replacement resorption and #9 developing inflammatory root resorption. A 10-year-old girl presented complaining of pain in her maxillary central incisors. Upon clinical examination, teeth #8 and #9 were tender to percussion and palpation of the buccal soft tissues. Thermal and electrical pulpal sensitivity tests for teeth #8 and #9 were negative. An intraoral periapical radiograph revealed resorptive defects in tooth #8, which were filled with bone-like tissue, while tooth #9 had radiolucent resorptive defects along the root surface and a periapical radiolucency. A diagnosis of replacement resorption was made for tooth #8 and external inflammatory root resorption for tooth #9. Tooth #8 was treated with a multidisciplinary approach utilizing a guided template for premolar autotransplantation with an immediate veneer restoration, while tooth #9 was managed with root canal treatment using a tricalcium silicate cement to fill the canal. At the 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24-month follow-ups, the patient remained asymptomatic, and there was no radiographic evidence of root or periapical pathosis on either tooth. The root-end of the donor tooth transplanted to the #8 site continued to develop. This case report highlights successful interdisciplinary management of two forms of root resorption using modern treatment strategies that provided immediate function and esthetics to the maxillary central incisors in a young patient following trauma.

The Study and Relevance of Pulp Chamber Anatomy in Endodontics - A Comprehensive Review.

With the ever-increasing understanding of tooth anatomy, there is a renewed focus on the pulp chamber as an important component of the root canal system. For example, the pulp chamber is of critical relevance during diagnostic procedures such as pulp sensibility tests, deep caries removal, vital pulp treatments, access cavity preparation, tooth whitening, tooth restoration as well as methods for examining the floor of the pulp chamber to aid the detection of root canal orifices or the presence of perforations and cracks. The more recent concept of minimal invasive endodontics has also created a need to understand better the anatomy of the pulp chamber. The purpose of this article is to discuss the research methods used to study pulp chamber anatomy and the significance of the pulp chamber in endodontic research and clinical practice. In addition, directions for future research are emphasised.

Validity and reliability of artificial intelligence chatbots as public sources of information on endodontics.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the validity and reliability of responses provided by GPT-3.5, Google Bard, and Bing to frequently asked questions (FAQs) in the field of endodontics. METHODOLOGY: FAQs were formulated by expert endodontists (n = 10) and collected through GPT-3.5 queries (n = 10), with every question posed to each chatbot three times. Responses (N = 180) were independently evaluated by two board-certified endodontists using a modified Global Quality Score (GQS) on a 5-point Likert scale (5: strongly agree; 4: agree; 3: neutral; 2: disagree; 1: strongly disagree). Disagreements on scoring were resolved through evidence-based discussions. The validity of responses was analysed by categorizing scores into valid or invalid at two thresholds: The low threshold was set at score ≥4 for all three responses whilst the high threshold was set at score 5 for all three responses. Fisher's exact test was conducted to compare the validity of responses between chatbots. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the reliability by assessing the consistency of repeated responses for each chatbot. RESULTS: All three chatbots provided answers to all questions. Using the low-threshold validity test (GPT-3.5: 95%; Google Bard: 85%; Bing: 75%), there was no significant difference between the platforms (p > .05). When using the high-threshold validity test, the chatbot scores were substantially lower (GPT-3.5: 60%; Google Bard: 15%; Bing: 15%). The validity of GPT-3.5 responses was significantly higher than Google Bard and Bing (p = .008). All three chatbots achieved an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach's alpha >0.7). CONCLUSIONS: GPT-3.5 provided more credible information on topics related to endodontics compared to Google Bard and Bing.

Clinical management of external cervical resorption: A systematic review.

This review investigated whether any therapeutic options influenced the outcome of treatment for teeth with external cervical resorption. Out of 870 articles identified by an electronic search, 60 clinical case reports and six case series were included. No randomised clinical trials were found. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's tools. External surgical intervention was the preferred method of accessing the lesions. Removal of resorptive tissue was most often achieved mechanically. Bioactive endodontic cements were the preferred materials for restoring teeth. The outcome measures were based on clinical and radiographic parameters. Of the cases included in the review, no specific treatment approach had a superior outcome in relation to Heithersay's classification. Furthermore, due to the absence of randomised clinical trials, and the low level of evidence associated with case reports/case series, it was not possible to define the optimum clinical treatment for external cervical resorption.

Critical analysis of a new system to classify root and canal morphology - A systematic review.

A novel system to classify root and canal morphology was recently introduced (Ahmed et al. 2017). This systematic review aimed to answer the following research question: Does the Ahmed et al. system provide a more accurate and practical classification of root and canal anatomy compared to other classifications? A literature search was conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus and Wiley Online Library to identify the citation counts for the article entitled 'A new system for classifying root and root canal morphology; doi.org/10.1111/iej.12685'. After removal of duplicates and unrelated articles, 15 studies were included and analysed. All studies compared the Ahmed et al. system with the Vertucci classification. Results revealed that both systems were able to classify simple canal configurations in single-rooted anterior and premolar teeth, disto-buccal and palatal roots of maxillary molars. However, the Ahmed et al. system provided more accurate and comprehensive categorisations of single-rooted teeth with complex canal anatomy, multi-rooted maxillary and mandibular premolars and the mesio-buccal root of maxillary molars. Further evidence on the utility of the Ahmed et al. system is required using other diagnostic devices especially in molars.

Methodological assessment and overall confidence in the results of systematic reviews with meta-analyses focusing on traumatic dental injuries: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: High methodological quality is required to interpret results of systematic reviews (SRs) in a reliable and accurate manner. The primary aim of this study was to appraise the methodologic quality of SRs with meta-analysis within the field of traumatic dental injuries using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 tool and assess overall confidence in their results. A secondary aim was to identify potential predictive factors associated with methodological quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SRs with meta-analyses published in English in the field of traumatic dental injuries from inception to March 2023 were identified. The methodological quality of the included reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 checklist. Two independent evaluators scored each AMSTAR 2 item as "yes" if it was adequately addressed, "partial yes" if it was partially addressed, and "no" if it was not addressed. The overall confidence in the results of each review was classified as "High," "Moderate," "Low," or "Critically low." Using multiple regression, the relationship between five predictor variables (journal impact factor, year of publication, number of authors, journal adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses [PRISMA] guidelines and a priori protocol registration) and the total AMSTAR 2 scores was analyzed. The p-value was 5%. RESULTS: Forty-one SRs were included. The overall confidence in the results of 13 reviews was categorized as "Critically low," 18 as "Low," 3 as "Moderate" and 7 as "High." Among the five predictor variables analyzed statistically, impact factor of the journal and year of publication significantly influenced the total AMSTAR 2 scores. The number of authors, adherence to PRISMA guidelines, and a priori protocol registration had no significant impact on AMSTAR 2 scores. CONCLUSION: The overall confidence in the results of SRs with meta-analysis within the field of traumatic dental injuries was "Low" or "Critically Low" in the vast majority of studies (31 of 41). SRs with meta-analyses published in journals with higher impact factors and more recent publications had significantly higher methodological quality.

Successful Root Canal Treatment of an Atypical Mandibular Canine with a Boomerang-shaped Root and Canal System with a Large Periapical lesion-A Case Report with 9-year Follow-up.

AIM: This report describes an atypical mandibular canine with a single boomerang-shaped root and root canal system with a large periapical lesion managed by root canal treatment. METHODS: The chief complaint of a 16-year-old male was acute pain and an abnormal sensation in the right mandibular canine (tooth #27). The clinical examination revealed that tooth #27 had an unusual coronal morphology. The buccal aspect of the tooth resembled that of a normal canine but was significantly broader than expected. On the lingual aspect of the crown; however, there was an unusual cusp-like structure with ridges that was slightly less prominent than the buccal incisal tip. The intraoral periapical radiographs revealed a complex root with an obvious cow horn-shaped canal mesially and distally, but with the suggestion of a root structure joining the mesial and distal extensions. A large periapical lesion was present. Computed tomography revealed the presence of a single root and canal system shaped like a boomerang. Root canal treatment was performed and the patient was followed-up for 9 years. RESULTS: Following root canal treatment, the patient had no symptoms, no mobility, no periodontal pockets, or root resorption. At 9 years, the cone beam computed tomography images confirmed that satisfactory healing of the periapical tissues had occurred. CONCLUSION: The mandibular right canine had a unique boomerang-shaped root and canal system. Effective shaping and cleaning of the complex canal shape plus thermoplastic root filling aided the successful healing of the periapical lesion.

Critical analysis of the reporting quality of animal studies within Endodontics using the Preferred Reporting Items for Animal Studies in Endodontics (PRIASE) 2021 quality standard checklist.

AIM: To critically evaluate the reporting quality of a random sample of animal studies within the field of endodontics against the Preferred Reporting Items for Animal Studies in Endodontics (PRIASE) 2021 checklist and to investigate the association between the quality of reporting and several characteristics of the selected studies. METHODOLOGY: Fifty animal studies related to endodontics were randomly selected from the PubMed database with publication dates from January 2017 to December 2021. For each study, a score of '1' was given when the item of the PRIASE 2021 checklist was fully reported, whereas a score of '0' was given when an item was not reported; when the item was inadequately or partially reported, a score of '0.5' was given. Based on the overall scores allocated to each manuscript, they were allocated into three categories of reporting quality: low, moderate and high. Associations between study characteristics and reporting quality scores were also analysed. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests were used to describe the data and determine associations. The probability value of .05 was selected as the level of statistical significance. RESULTS: Based on the overall scores, four (8%) and 46 (92%) of the animal studies evaluated were categorized as 'High' and 'Moderate' reporting quality, respectively. A number of items were adequately reported in all studies related to background (Item 4a), relevance of methods/results (7a) and interpretation of images (11e), whereas only one item related to changes in protocol (6d) was not reported in any. No associations were confirmed between reporting quality scores and number of authors, origin of the corresponding author, journal of publication (endodontic specialty vs. non- specialty), impact factor or year of publication. CONCLUSIONS: Animal studies published in the specialty of endodontics were mostly of 'moderate' quality in terms of the quality of reporting. Adherence to the PRIASE 2021 guidelines will enhance the reporting of animal studies in the expectation that all future publications will be high quality.

Accuracy of CAD-CAM Surgically Guided Tooth Autotransplantation Using Guided Templates and Custom-designed Osteotomes in Human Cadaver Mandibles.

INTRODUCTION: A major challenge in dentistry is the replacement of teeth lost prematurely due to trauma, caries, or malformations; especially in growing patients. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of CAD-CAM surgically guided tooth autotransplantation in cryopreserved cadaver mandibles using guided templates and custom-designed osteotomes. METHODS: Cryopreserved human cadaver heads were digitized and scanned using an intraoral optical scanner and a large-volume cone beam computed tomography device. First, virtual surgical planning was performed to create a 3D tooth replica, 2 surgical guides, and a custom-made osteotome for each single-rooted tooth autotransplantation procedure/case. Surgical sockets were created in the selected mandibles using guided tooling consisting of an initial guided osteotomy with implant burs and a final guided osteotomy using custom osteotomes. After tooth autotransplantation, second large-volume cone beam computed tomography images of the 5 cadaver mandibles were obtained. The discrepancy in mm within the 3D space (apical and mesiodistal deviations) between the final position of the autotransplanted teeth and their digitally planned 3D initial position was calculated and analyzed statistically (P < .05). RESULTS: All donor teeth were placed without incident within their newly created sockets in the real mandibles. The mean difference between the digitally planned root apex position and the final tooth position was 2.46 ± 1.25 mm. The mesiodistal deviation of the autotransplanted teeth was 1.63 ± 0.96 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The autotransplantation of single-rooted teeth with custom-designed and 3D-printed surgical tooling provided promising results. The technique was able to create surgically prepared sockets that could accommodate transplanted teeth in mandibles.