Efficacy of ultrasonic vibration in warm gutta-percha vertical compaction.

AIM: Vertical compaction of warm gutta-percha is a methodology to seal root canals and it might be associated with ultrasonic vibration. The aim of this paper was to determine whether vertical compaction of warm gutta-percha used with ultrasonic vibrations performs better compared to the traditional one. METHODS: Twenty-four single-rooted teeth were endodontically treated and randomly divided into two groups: in the first group (G1), teeth were filled using vertical compaction, while in the other (G2), vertical compaction was used with ultrasonic vibration. A microleakage test was performed after 24 h and 30 days from root canal sealing. RESULTS: After 24 hours, microleakage was similar in both groups (0.013 µL/min; SD 0.008); after 30 days, it was 0.006 µL/min (SD 0.004) in G1 and 0.004 µL/min (SD 0.003) in G2 (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Under these experimental conditions, ultrasonic vibration used with vertical compaction produced a similar level of sealing as the traditional method.

Periapical resurgery versus periapical surgery: a 5-year longitudinal comparison.

AIM: To monitor and compare the outcome of periradicular surgery in teeth that had previously undergone surgical treatment versus teeth that were undergoing a surgical procedure for the first time. METHODOLOGY: A total of 164 patients with 231 roots with previously unresolved periapical lesions were followed for up to 5 years following surgery. In all, 162 roots had received unsuccessful conventional root canal treatment (group AS) and 69 had been treated previously using apical surgery (group RS). The surgical procedure was completed using ultrasonic retrotips to prepare the apical root-end cavity, and a zinc-oxide EBA reinforced material was used to fill the apical root-end cavities. Lesions were radiologically examined from 1 to 5 years following the surgical procedure. Radiographs were independently analysed, according to a previously published classification. RESULTS: In all the roots examined after 5 years, the overall healing rate was 78%; in group AS, 140 (86%) healed with complete bone filling of the surgical cavity, 12 (7%) were considered to have incompletely healed and 10 (6%) were associated with post-treatment disease. In group RS, 41 (59%) healed completely, 12 (17%) were considered to have incompletely healed and 16 (23%) were associated with post-treatment disease. The difference between a second surgical procedure and a first surgical procedure was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U-test, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgical retreatment of teeth previously treated with surgery is a valid alternative to extraction. However, association with post-treatment disease was greater than after a primary surgical approach.