Radiographic quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students.

AIM: To evaluate the radiographic technical quality of root fillings and the incidence of iatrogenic errors in treatment provided by undergraduate students. METHODOLOGY: Endodontic records and periapical radiographs of 759 root filled teeth were selected following exclusion of 25 (3.3%). A final total of 734 cases were used to assess the technical quality of root fillings in 1109 root canals performed by 4(th) and 5(th) undergraduate students. Two variables were examined: the length and the density of the fillings, categorized as acceptable and non-acceptable. The presence of ledges, root perforation, foramen perforation and fractured instruments were also investigated. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Acceptable root fillings were found in 55% of canals. More ;acceptable' root fillings occurred in maxillary compared to mandibular teeth (58 and 51% respectively) (P < 0.05) and in anterior compared with premolar (71 and 61%) and molar root canals (39% respectively) (P < 0.05). Insignificantly more (5.4%) acceptable root fillings were provided by 5(th) year students. Most of the underfillings and iatrogenic errors were detected in molars for both academic years (53 and 65% respectively). Ledges were noted in 55% of cases treated by both academic years and significantly more foramen perforations were detected in the 5(th) compared with the 4(th) year students (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the technical quality of root fillings performed by the undergraduate students, especially in molar teeth.

Determination of endotoxins in the vital pulp of human carious teeth: association with pulpal pain.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this investigation were to determine the presence or absence of endotoxins in the pulp of symptomatic and symptom-free human carious teeth, to quantify the amount of endotoxins present, and to associate the presence of endotoxins with the acute pulpal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pulpal tissue was sampled from 28 single-rooted carious teeth (15 symptomatic, 13 symptom-free) derived from 28 patients. Samples were also taken from the pulp of 5 noncarious control teeth. During sampling an effort was made to collect an equal weight of pulpal tissue in all cases (approximately 8 mg). The extraction of endotoxins was performed with the use of phenol-water. The assay and quantitative determination of endotoxins was performed with the use of a limulus lysate test. The data were analyzed statistically by using the independent t test. RESULTS: Endotoxins were detected in pulpal tissues of all carious teeth in the symptomatic (mean average, 0.15773 ng/mL; SD = 0.045811) and symptom-free group (mean average, 0.10723 ng/mL; SD = 0.010925). In noncarious control teeth, endotoxins were not detected. The presence of endotoxins was significantly higher in the group of symptomatic teeth than in the group of symptom-free teeth (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of endotoxins in the pulpal tissue of all the carious teeth indicates that they may play a major role in the pathogenesis of human pulpal diseases. Since a significantly higher level of endotoxins was detected in the pulp of symptomatic carious teeth than in that of symptom-free carious teeth, an association of endotoxins levels with severity of pulpal pain is probable.

Determination of endotoxins in caries: association with pulpal pain.

AIM: The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the presence or absence of endotoxins in the superficial and deep layers of carious lesions of symptomatic and asymptomatic teeth with vital pulps; (ii) to quantify the amount of endotoxin present; and (iii) to associate the presence of endotoxins with the acute pulpal pain derived from the irreversible pulpitis. METHODOLOGY: Two specimens of carious dentine were taken under aseptic conditions from symptomatic teeth with irreversible pulpitis (n = 9) and asymptomatic teeth with reversible pulpitis (n = 11). The first specimen was taken from a layer of superficial caries and the second from a deeper one. Sound dentine was also collected from intact teeth without restoration and used as a noncarious control group (n = 4). During the patient sampling procedure an effort was made to collect an equal quantity of caries and sound dentine in all cases (approximately 6 mg). The extraction of endotoxins was performed using the Phenol-water method. The assay and quantitative determination of endotoxins was performed by the Quantitative Chromogenic test using Limulus Lysate. Data were analysed statistically using either independent or paired t-tests. RESULTS: The results indicated that endotoxins were present in the superficial and deep layers of caries of all symptomatic teeth with irreversible pulpitis (0.15078 and 0.12111 ng mL-1, respectively), with significantly greater amount (P < 0.01) in the superficial compared to the deep layer. Endotoxins were found in superficial and deep layer of caries of all asymptomatic teeth with reversible pulpitis (0.12091 and 0.07163 ng mL-1, respectively), with significantly greater amounts (P < 0.001) in the superficial compared to the deep layer. The results also demonstrated that significantly greater concentrations (P < 0.005) of endotoxins were present in the superficial carious layer of symptomatic compared with asymptomatic teeth (0.15078 and 0.12091 ng mL-1, respectively). Likewise, significantly greater amounts (P < 0.001) of endotoxins were present in the deep carious layer of symptomatic compared with asymptomatic teeth (0.12111 and 0.07163 ng mL-1, respectively). In sound dentine no endotoxins were detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that endotoxins are present in carious lesions of symptomatic and asymptomatic teeth. The amount of endotoxin was significantly greater in the superficial compared to the deep layer of carious dentine. More endotoxins are present in caries of painful teeth compared with those without symptoms.

Deposition of calcified tissue around an overextended gutta-percha cone: case report.

CASE REPORT: Root canal treatment was performed in a mandibular right second premolar with a periapical lesion and apical resorption. The root canal was prepared with K-files using the step-back technique and 3% NaOCl as an irrigant; during obturation gross overfilling of gutta-percha occurred. The tooth was permanently restored with a post and core along with a crown. Although healing of the periapical lesion occurred and the patient reported that he was symptom-free, the tooth was extracted after 4 years because of a subgingival root fracture. Following extraction the tooth was examined with SEM. The examination revealed the presence of newly formed calcified tissue at resorption sites on the root apex. This newly formed tissue extended from the surface of the root around the apex to the extruded gutta-percha cone to which it was well adapted, forming a bridge between the cone and the root.

The application of the buccal object rule for the determination of calcified root canals.

Root canal calcification represents a serious problem which often occurs in clinical practice. Calcified root canals are difficult or even impossible to find and treat conservatively. In this paper, a technique is proposed which may be helpful in detecting and locating calcified root canal(s) and properly treating them. The proposed technique is simple and easy to perform in posterior and anterior teeth, and it may be useful in everyday clinical practice.

Dens invaginatus in a mandibular lateral incisor.

A rare case of dens invaginatus involving a non-carious mandibular lateral incisor with periapical periodontitis is reported. Invaginated teeth present technical difficulties in their clinical management because of their abnormal anatomy. In the present case, non-surgical root canal therapy was chosen. A one-year follow-up clinical and radiographic examination showed a non-symptomatic tooth with osseous healing proceeding.