Association between the irrigation-agitation techniques and Periapical Healing of large periapical lesions: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of manual dynamic activation (MDA), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and laser-activated irrigation (shock wave-enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS)) on the periapical healing of large periapical lesions following nonsurgical root canal treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of fifty-six systemically healthy patients with a mandibular single-rooted tooth with periapical lesions of endodontic origin and a periapical index score of 3 or higher were included in the study. Before the treatment procedures, lesion volumes were determined volumetrically using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Patients were randomized into treatment (MDA, PUI, SWEEPS) and control groups (n = 14). Root canal treatment and irrigation procedures were performed by a calibrated postgraduate operator and completed at one visit. For routine follow-up, clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed by a blinded evaluator using periapical (PA) radiographs according to Molven's criteria at 3, 6, and 9 months. At 12 months, lesion volumes were quantified volumetrically using CBCT (ITK-SNAP). The data were statistically analyzed with the Wilcoxon test. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: In all groups, the mean lesion volume after treatment was significantly smaller than the mean volume before treatment (p = 0.001). Among the 56 teeth, 11 teeth were 'totally healed', and 39 teeth were 'reduced' on PA radiographs. No 'enlargement' was detected in any group. On CBCT, the lesion volume decreased in the following order: LAI-SWEEPS (86.9%) > PUI (85.4%) > MDA (80.4%) > control (74.5%), with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of the present study, although a greater percentage of healing was observed in the LAI-SWEEPS and PUI groups, irrigation procedures had no statistically significant effect on the healing of periapical lesions with a single root canal at the 12-month follow-up. On the other hand, the outcome may change in multirooted teeth with curved and complex root canal systems. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the short term and in single-canal teeth, advanced irrigation agitation methods such as laser and ultrasonic did not make a difference in healing other than manual irrigation agitation.

Retrospective radiological analysis of cemento-osseous dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Osseous dysplasia (OD) is a form of fibro-osseous lesion located in the jaws that may interfere with the adjacent anatomical structures. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution of radiographic imaging features, the morphological characteristics and the lesion volume of OD with the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included radiologically diagnosed lesions followed up for at least 1 year. The prevalence and distribution of the OD types were defined in terms of age, sex, lesion location, teeth, relationship with the anatomical structures, and lesion volume. RESULTS: The mean age gradually increased from the periapical group to the florid group (p = 0.018). It was observed that the mandible was the most frequently affected bone (85.5%) (p < 0.05). The margins of the lesions were well defined, and had an irregular or circular shape. The buccal cortical bone was the most affected structure (84.5%), and the damage in the cortical bone increased with an increase in the lesion volume. With regard to teeth, the most frequent disorder was a discontinuous lamina dura (83.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Osseous dysplasia lesions affect a wide range of different anatomical areas, and show different volume and morphometric characteristics.

Prediction of root canal lengths and pulp volume of the maxillary permanent first molar based on stature, crown diameters, and facial morphometry.

This study purposed to develop statistical models to predict palatal (PRL), mesial (MRL), and distal (DRL) root canal length and pulp volume (PV) of the maxillary first permanent molar using stature, gender, mesiodistal (MD), and buccopalatal (BP) crown diameters and some facial morphometries. 57 individuals were included in the study. Cone beam computed tomography was used to measure root canal lengths and PV. The PV calculation was carried out using the software ITK-SNAP 3.4.0. PRL was positively correlated with BP, stature, middle facial height, interalar distance, and bicommissural distance (BCD) (p < 0.05). DRL was positively correlated with BP, MD, and stature (p < 0.05). MRL was positively correlated with BP, MD, stature, lower face height, bizygomatic distance, and BCD (p < 0.05). PV was negatively correlated with age and BCD (p < 0.05). Although all models have significant predictive power for the root lengths and PV, no model could explain variances greater than 30%. The highest and lowest predictive ability was obtained for PRL and DRL, respectively. While the most significant predictor was BP for PRL and DRL, it was the age for PV.

Assessment of bone quality of apical periodontitis treated with MTA plug and regenerative endodontic techniques.

Fractal analysis (FA) is a quantitative, objective and non-invasive method that facilitates the characterisation of the tissue architecture. This study aims to compare the periapical healing at 1-year follow-up by evaluating newly generated trabecular bone with FA after Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) plug and regenerative endodontic treatment (RET). A total of 55 asymptomatic teeth with a single-canal, open apex and periapical lesion, treated with MTA plug or RET, were evaluated retrospectively. After considering the inclusion/exclusion criteria, FA was conducted on 30 periapical images using the box-counting method. In both groups, a significant decrease was observed in the periapical lesion size at 1-year follow-up (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the MTA plug and RET (p > 0.01). Significantly higher fractal dimension values were detected at 1-year follow-up in both MTA plug and RET cases (p < 0.01). However, the difference was not significant between the groups (p > 0.01). Both procedures seem to improve periapical healing with a new resistant bone of similar density and complexity.

Evaluation of endodontically treated teeth and related apical periodontitis using periapical and endodontic status scale: Retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical treatment quality and the status of apical pathology of endodontically treated teeth, as well as apical periodontitis (AP) prevalence, in a Turkish population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The CBCT images obtained between January 2018 and April 2020 were retrospectively examined. The quality of the endodontic treatments and the related periapical inflammatory lesions were classified according to the periapical and endodontic status scale (PESS). The data were statistically analysed using logistic regression, crosstabs and chi-square tests. AP was detected in 41% of 429 endodontically treated teeth. The prevalence of AP was significantly higher in teeth with inadequate root canal treatment compared with those with adequate treatment, 70.8% and 29.3%, respectively. Inadequate canal length and homogeneity, and complications were significantly associated with the prognostic periapical status scores of higher risk.

Removal of Calcium Hydroxide Pastes Containing N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, Local Anaesthesia, Glycerine, and Methylcellulose from Artificial Radicular Grooves: An In-vitro Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the removal of calcium hydroxide (CaOH) pastes containing N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), lidocaine, glycerine, methylcellulose, or water from artificially created grooves. METHODS: In this study, 115 human single-rooted maxillary incisors with single and straight root canals were prepared using a rotary file up to size 40/.04 and split longitudinally. A longitudinal groove was created from 2 to 5 mm from the apex and filled with CaOH combined with different vehicles. The specimens were divided among 5 experimental groups according to the vehicle as follows: distilled water, lidocaine, glycerine, methylcellulose, and NMP. The two halves were re-attached, and the canals were flushed with 10 ml of 17% EDTA for 60 seconds. The residual amount of CaOH was scored using a stereomicroscope at 8× magnification. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: The NMP-based group exhibited significantly less residual medicament compared to the distilled water (P<0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences among the methylcellulose-, lidocaine-, and glycerine-based groups and distilled water (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The vehicle is an important factor in the successful removal of CaOH medicament from the root canals. Within the limitations of the present study, the NMP-based CaOH medicament exhibited better removal efficacy than the distilled water. However, the cleaning success of the methylcellulose-, lidocaine-, and glycerine-based groups was similar to that of distilled water.

Taurodontism and C-shaped anatomy: is there an association?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation between taurodontism and C-shaped configuration, as well as the prevalence and classification according to sex, left/right position, and arc length in the mandibular premolar and molar teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: The presence of taurodontism and C-shaped configuration were evaluated using CBCT scans and classified by two independent radiologists. The sex, location in the jaw (left-right), and mandibular arc length measurements were recorded. The Chi-square test was used to determine the presence of taurodontism and C-shape configuration according to sex, left/right location, and independent-sample t tests were used to assess the relation between the arc length. RESULTS: The prevalence of taurodontism was significantly higher in the female population, whereas the C-shaped configuration was more frequent in males (p < 0.05). In both sexes, the most common type was hypotaurodont (7.5%). In the molars, the prevalence was significantly higher in second molars, and the most common C-shaped configuration type was C3 (39.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher in the first premolar, with C2 (22.4%) being the most frequent type in the premolars (p < 0.05). The arc length and location in the jaw were not significantly affected (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A high correlation was revealed between taurodontism and complicated C-shape canal configurations. Practitioners should be very careful about the presence of C-shape morphology in taurodontism treatment, and various types of C-shaped morphology ranging from coronal to the apical direction.

Assessment of bone healing after mineral trioxide aggregate and platelet-rich fibrin application in periapical lesions using cone-beam computed tomographic imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) use on periapical healing in surgically treated periapical lesions using three-dimensional (3D) cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 periapical lesions undergoing apical surgery were selected between December 2016 and November 2017. The participants were randomly divided into four study groups: control, MTA, PRF, and MTA+PRF. No interventions were made in the control group except root-end resection. Routine radiographs were taken in the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months. The volume and density of periapical lesions at the 1-year follow-up were compared with the pre-op values using the MIMICS software program. Primary healing of the periapical tissues was evaluated, and the outcomes were noted. RESULTS: Post-op volume values were significantly decreased, and density values were significantly increased according to the pre-op measurements. In the post-op volume evaluation between the groups, significant differences were observed in the MTA and MTA+PRF groups compared with the control group (p < 0.005). However, no substantial significance was noted between the control and PRF groups. There were no significant differences in post-op density calculations between all groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High success rates were achieved using MTA in periapical lesions in endodontic microsurgery. The application of PRF to the surgical cavity may not necessarily improve outcomes. Further studies are needed with long-term follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03743987 (The Effect of MTA and PRF Application in Periapical Lesions).