Effects of aging and inflammation on catalase activity in human dental pulp.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, it was aimed to examine the catalase activity in clinically healthy and caries-related inflamed symptomatic human dental pulps of young and old individuals. DESIGN: Sixty pulp samples from young and old healthy donors, were collected depending on pulpal status. 48 samples were used for spectrophotometric analysis and 12 samples for immunohistochemistry. Healthy pulps were maintained from non-carries, extracted third molars. Reversible and irreversible pulpitis samples were obtained by pulp extirpation during endodontic treatment. Following homogenization catalase enzyme activity was determined by spectrophotometry. Additionally, two pulp tissue samples from each group were fixed and evaluated for catalase immunoreactivity. RESULTS: Catalase enzyme activity in old healthy pulp samples were significantly higher than healthy young samples (p ≤ 0.05). Reversible and irreversible pulpitis samples indicated significantly decreased activity compared to healthy samples in elderly group (p ≤ 0.05). Young reversible pulpitis samples showed significantly increased catalase activity when compared to irreversible pulpitis and the reversible pulpitis samples in elderly group (p ≤ 0.05). Immunohistochemical evaluation indicated that there was intense catalase immunoreactivity in young patients with reversible pulpitis compared with reversible pulpitis in elderly group. However, weak immunoreactivity was observed in young irreversible pulpitis and elderly reversible pulpitis samples. CONCLUSIONS: The pulp tissues presented different levels of catalase activities against pulpitis and aging.

Age-related Changes in the Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Healthy and Inflamed Human Dental Pulp.

INTRODUCTION: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) plays an important role in inducing mineralization events in the dental pulp. This study investigated and compared the ALP levels in healthy and inflamed pulp in young and old human pulp. METHODS: Tissue samples were collected from young (<30 years) and old (>60 years) donors. In both age groups, healthy human pulp (n = 18) were collected from extracted wisdom teeth. For reversible and irreversible pulpitis, pulp samples (n = 18 each) were obtained during endodontic treatment. ALP activity was assessed by spectrophotometry and immunhistochemistry. RESULTS: Regardless of age, reversible pulpitis group samples showed a slight elevation in ALP activity compared with normal healthy pulp. In elderly patients, ALP expression with irreversible pulpitis was significantly higher than those with a healthy pulp (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In the hyperemic state, both the young and old pulp shows a slight increase in ALP activity, whereas in irreversible pulpitis, only the old pulp shows significantly elevated ALP levels. Such an increase may trigger calcification events, which may eventually cause difficulties in endodontic treatment procedures in elderly individuals.

Efficacy of rotary Ni-Ti retreatment systems in root canals filled with a new warm vertical compaction technique.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Mtwo, ProTaper retreatment files and Hedström files for the retreatment of root canals filled with BeeFill 2 in1 and cold lateral compaction techniques. 63 single-rooted human teeth were prepared with Mtwo rotary files to size 35/.04 and assigned into three groups (n=21/group). (1) BeeFill 2 in1/2Seal, (2) BeeFill 2 in1/AH26 and (3) laterally-compacted gutta-percha/AH26. The specimens were subgrouped according to the file system used to remove root fillings (n=7/subgroup): 1. Mtwo retreatment file, 2. ProTaper retreatment file, 3. Hedström file. Roots were split longitudinally and photographed. The time required for removal of root canal fillings and the areas of residual root filling materials were compared statistically (p<0.05). The maximum amount of remnant was observed in the Mtwo group for removal of BeeFill 2 in1/AH26. ProTaper retreatment files required less time to remove root filling material than Mtwo retreatment files and Hedström files (p<0.05). Among the tested removal systems, ProTaper retreatment files may offer the best efficiency-speed combination.