Is the quality of root canal filling obtained by cone-beam computed tomography associated with periapical lesions? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of root canal filling quality on periapical lesion status using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bibliographic search was conducted in electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science without restrictions related to the year of publication and language. Inclusion criteria were prospective or retrospective cohort studies that followed periapical pathosis for, at least, 1 year. Three reviewers independently evaluated the eligibility for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. The quality of the studies was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the quality of treatment by the homogeneity and apical extension of the filling. RESULTS: Of the 1179 studies initially recovered, six cohort studies were included, out of which four were considered with a low risk of bias. The results showed that the absence of gaps in the filling reduced the chance of unhealed periapical lesions by 2.39 times (RR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.62-3.53; p < 0.00001; I2 = 55%). An apical filling extension of 0-2 mm below the apex also contributed significantly to the absence of unhealed periapical lesions (RR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.15-1.94; p = 0.003; I2 = 2%). CONCLUSION: The homogeneity and apical extension of the filling influenced the presence of unhealed periapical lesions in endodontically treated teeth evaluated using CBCT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Apical extension of the filling ranging between 0 and 2 mm short of the apical foramen and the homogeneity of the filling without gaps are directly related to the success rate of root canal treatment.

Gene expression data of inflammatory mediators in apical periodontitis in 129 (wild type) and 5-lipoxygenase knockout mice.

Apical periodontitis is an immune inflammatory response around periapical tissues as a result of pathogens invasion into the root canal. The host immunoinflammatory response could determine the progression of this disease, which involves the recruitment of immune cells, and the release of several cytokines in the lesion site. The 5-lipoxygenase pathway has been activated in some osteolytic diseases due to its capacity to interfere in the proliferation and differentiation of bone cells, including the osteoclasts. As mean to understand the inflammatory genes regulation in the apical periodontitis progression, we evaluated the network of 66 genes related to cytokines, chemokines and other inflammatory mediators and receptors in the wild-type (WT) and 5-lipoxygenase enzyme genetically deficient mice (KO). This article presents data not published but related to the research article "Effects of 5-lipoxygenase gene disruption on inflammation, osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in polymicrobial apical periodontitis" .