ABSTRACT
AIM: To quantitatively assess the extent of morphologic changes of the apical root area and root length of maxillary central incisors after orthodontic treatment using digital subtraction radiography (DSR) and to investigate possible contributing parameters. METHODS: The subtracted images of panoramic radiographs of 21 patients before and after orthodontic treatment were evaluated using I/RAS C and Image J software. The retrieved data were analyzed by means of SPSS statistical software, and the method's error was assessed. RESULTS: There was a small but significant decrease of the root dimensions of the maxillary central incisors at the end of orthodontic treatment. The amount of root resorption was not significantly influenced by sex, age, dentition, malocclusion classification, extraction, overjet, overbite, elastic wear, and number of teeth with resorption as measured by DSR. CONCLUSION: DSR of pre- and posttreatment panoramic radiographs was able to confirm minor root resorption of the maxillary central incisors after orthodontic treatment.
Subject(s)
Incisor/diagnostic imaging , Maxilla/diagnostic imaging , Orthodontics, Corrective , Radiography, Panoramic/methods , Root Resorption/diagnostic imaging , Subtraction Technique , Adolescent , Anatomic Landmarks/diagnostic imaging , Bicuspid/surgery , Child , Dentition, Mixed , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Male , Malocclusion, Angle Class I/therapy , Malocclusion, Angle Class II/therapy , Orthodontic Appliances/classification , Orthodontics, Corrective/instrumentation , Overbite/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging , Tooth Extraction , Tooth Root/diagnostic imaging , Young AdultABSTRACT
The effect of the smear layer on the penetration depth of three different root canal sealers into the dentinal tubules was examined in 64 recently extracted single-rooted teeth. After chemomechanical preparation, the samples were randomly divided in two equal groups. The smear layer remained intact in group A, whereas complete removal of the smear layer was performed in group B. Two roots from each group were used as controls. Ten roots from each group were obturated with laterally condensed gutta-percha points and sealers AH Plus, Apexit, and Roth 811, respectively. Examination in scanning electron microscope revealed that the smear layer obstructed all the sealers from penetrating dentinal tubules. In contrast, smear layer removal allowed the penetration of all sealers to occur to a varying depth. These findings suggest that smear layer plays an important role in sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules, as well as in the potential clinical implications.
