Influence of Infected Root Dentin on the Bond Strength of a Self-adhesive Resin Cement.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the bond strength (BS) of a self-adhesive resin cement to the contaminated root dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The crown and apical third of twenty single-rooted teeth were removed. The root canals were flared and 1-mm-thick root sections were obtained. The sections were rinsed, dried, and sterilized. The control group (n=20) was composed of one section of each third, which remained immersed in sterile trypticase soy broth (TSB) for 2 months. The other sections comprised the experimental group (n = 40) and were immersed in a suspension of Enterococcus faecalis. The culture medium was changed at every 4 days for 2 months. The sections were rinsed with distilled water, dried, and the root canal space was filled with the self-adhesive resin cement RelyX™ U200. After 24 h, the push-out test was performed and the types of interface failure were observed on a stereo microscope. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (α=5%). RESULTS: A significant reduction was observed in the BS of resin cement to the contaminated dentin compared to the healthy dentin, for both thirds analyzed (P < 0.05). The BS was significantly greater at the cervical third compared to the middle third for specimens in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Adhesive and mixed failures were observed more frequently in specimens contaminated with E. faecalis. CONCLUSION: Bacterial contamination negatively infl uenced the BS of the self-adhesive resin cement to the root dentin, and there was a predominance of adhesive and mixed failures.

Florid Cemento-osseous Dysplasia: A Case of Misdiagnosis.

Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) belongs to the group of fibro-osseous lesions in which normal bone is replaced by fibrous connective tissue and calcified cementum tissue of the avascular type. Among the various types of fibro-osseous lesions, FCOD is one of the most commonly encountered diseases in clinical practice and may involve 3 or 4 of the quadrants. FCOD is located in the periapical regions of teeth, and the lesions are predominantly radiolucent (osteolytic phase), become mixed over time (cementoblast phase), and ultimately become radiopaque (osteogenic phase) with a thin radiolucent peripheral halo. The characteristics of FCOD in the initial stages are similar to those of periapical lesions of inflammatory origin, which may lead to misdiagnosis. A 38-year-old woman sought dental care because of complaints of pain on the right side of her face. A clinical examination revealed no marked alterations; a panoramic radiograph was therefore requested and revealed the presence of radiolucent lesions associated with the periapical regions of some of the lower teeth. Thus, the professional referred the patient for endodontic treatment of the associated teeth with the justification that the lesions were of endodontic origin. However, the endodontist found that the teeth responded positively to a sensitivity test. The initial diagnosis could have resulted in unnecessary root canal treatment, but after careful clinical, radiographic, and tomographic assessments by different professionals, FCOD was diagnosed, conservatively treated, and regularly monitored. It is important that dentists have a basic knowledge of the various injuries that affect the jaw bones to prevent errors in diagnosis and treatment and to promote oral health.

Removal of intracanal smear layer by doxycycline: SEM analysis.

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of doxycycline used alone or in association with sodium hypochlorite on smear layer removal. The canals of extracted human teeth were instrumented using a stepback technique. At the end of preparation, they were irrigated with doxycycline (Group 1), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid + sodium hypochlorite (Group 2), doxycycline + sodium hypochlorite (Group 3) and water (Group 4). The dentinal wall of the cervical, middle and apical thirds was graded according to the amount of remaining debris and smear layer. The results were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test (P < 0.05). In Groups 2 and 4, the dentine was completely free and covered with smear layer, respectively. The results from the cervical and middle thirds of Group 3 were worse than those in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). In relation to apical third, there were differences (P < 0.05) between all groups with best results for Group 2. Doxycycline was effective in removing smear layer from cervical and middle thirds. The use of doxycycline + sodium hypochlorite was partially effective in the cervical and middle thirds, but ineffective in the apical third.

The role of dentists in diagnosing osteogenesis imperfecta in patients with dentinogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as "brittle bone disease," can be difficult to diagnose in its mild form. The authors describe a clinical case of a diagnosis of dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), in which a literature review combined with an analysis of dental alterations led to indications of OI involvement. CASE DESCRIPTION: Since DI can be associated with OI, the authors reviewed correlated studies and obtained a new medical history from the patient. They then conducted a radiographic and clinical examination of the dentition and submitted an affected third molar to scanning electron microscopy analysis. They compared their findings with descriptions of OI type I dental alterations in the literature and confirmed their diagnosis by means of a medical evaluation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In cases in which DI is diagnosed, patients should be examined carefully and the occurrence of OI should be considered since, in its mild form, it might be misdiagnosed.

Interfacial evaluation of experimentally weakened roots restored with adhesive materials and fibre posts: an SEM analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the bonding interface in experimentally weakened roots reinforced with adhesive restorative materials and quartz fibre posts, varying the light-exposure time of the composite resin used for root reinforcement. METHODS: Twelve extracted human maxillary incisors teeth were used. The crowns were removed and the roots were endodontically treated. After post space preparation, the roots were assigned to four groups. The thickness of the root dentine was reduced and adhesively restored with composite resin light-activated through a translucent fibre post for either 40s (group 1), 80s (group 2) or 120s (group 3). In the case of control (group 4), the roots were not weakened. One day after post cementation, the specimens were sectioned transversally in three slices and processed for scanning electron microscopic analysis to observe bonding interface formation, quality of the hybrid layer and density of resin tags using a four-step scale method. RESULTS: Formation of a hybrid layer and resin tags were evident in all groups. There was no statistically (p>0.05) significant difference between the regions analysed in each group (Friedman test) and between groups in each section depth (Kruskal-Wallis test). Furthermore, comparison of the flared/reinforced groups showed that the different times used for composite resin cure did not affect the results significantly (Kruskal-Wallis test, p=0.2139). CONCLUSIONS: Different light-exposure times used for composite resin polymerisation during root canal reinforcement did not affect significantly the formation and quality of the dentine/adhesive/composite resin bonding interface.