Accuracy comparison of single- and double-sleeve endodontic guides for fiber post removal.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of two different endodontic guides for fiber post removal. METHODS: In this in vitro study, 54 maxillary canine fiber posts were mounted on 36 maxillary stone casts; 18 teeth were mounted unilaterally, and 36 teeth were mounted bilaterally. Static endodontic guides were fabricated according to baseline cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral optical scans using Blue Sky software. In the single-sleeve endodontic guides group (SSG), two anterior and two posterior teeth were included in a 5-unit guide. In the double-sleeve endodontic guides group (DSG) group, the guide was passed through the midline to include both canine teeth and extended by 2 teeth posterior to the canine teeth bilaterally (a 10-unit guide). After drilling, postoperative CBCT scans were taken and superimposed on the virtually designed path, and the maximum coronal deviation (MCD) at the marginal entry point of the tooth, maximum apical deviation (MAD) at 10 mm apical to the tooth margin, and maximum angular deflection (MAnD) of the drill were calculated. RESULTS: The mean MCD, MAD, and MAnD were 0.34 mm, 0.6 mm, and 2.32 degrees, respectively, in the SSG and 0.31 mm, 0.7 mm, and 2.37 degrees, respectively, in the DSG. The two groups were not significantly different from each other in terms of MCD (P = 0.573), MAD (P = 0.290), or MAnD (P = 0.896). CONCLUSIONS: The accuracies of the two techniques, the extended double sleeve guide and the single sleeve guide, were comparable and thus DSG may be used for removal of fiber posts in adjacent or distant teeth.

Reporting of Ethical Considerations Associated with Clinical Trials Published in Iranian Dental Journals between 2001 and 2011.

BACKGROUND: Ethical consideration is a basic requirement for design of randomized clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to assess whether reports of Iranian dental clinical trials complied with the requirements of the ethical principles of human research. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study electronic search was performed to identify all dental clinical trials published between 2001 and 2011. Each trial report was assessed for inclusion of a statement that 17 items about research ethics. RESULTS: Totally 242 papers were identified, of which 15.3%, stated that ethical approval had been obtained and 50.4% of the trial reports indicated that informed consent had been obtained. The mean ethical score for the mentioned studies was 7/68 out of 17. CONCLUSIONS: Most Iranian dental clinical trial reports failed to consider important ethical principles. The reporting of the ethical issues associated with these trials could be improved further not only by the instructions to authors, but also by Journal editors refusing to publish trials that do not comply.