Technical quality of root canal treatment in Taiwan.

AIM: To evaluate the current technical quality of root canal treatment (RCT) in Taiwan. METHODOLOGY: A total of 1085 RCT cases, randomly selected from a large sample and representative of the Taiwanese population from April to September 2000, were evaluated by eight endodontic specialists. The qualitative evaluation of RCT cases was based on two variables: length of the root filling and density of the obturation. A root canal with both adequate filling length (the apical termination of the root filling within 2 mm of the radiographic apex) and complete obturation (no lateral or apical canal lumen visible in the apical one-third of the root canal) was defined as having good-quality endodontic work (GQEW). A tooth was defined as having a GQEW when all its canals were categorized as GQEW. RESULTS: From a total of 1867 root canals, overfilling occurred in 235 (12.6%), adequate filling length in 1152 (61.7%), underfilling in 466 (25.0%) and no filling in 12 (0.6%). Of the 1867 root canals, 710 (38.0%) demonstrated complete obturation and 1157 (62%) demonstrated incomplete obturation. GQEW was found in 650 (34.8%) root canals and 329 (30.3%) teeth. The percentage of teeth with GQEW in hospital cases (38.1%) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that in private clinic cases (24.3%). In addition, the frequency of teeth with GQEW in the anterior teeth (40.4%) or in the premolars (33%) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that in the molars (18.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 70% of the teeth receiving RCT in Taiwan were either of inadequate filling length or sealing density.

The dilemma of "to-be or not-to-be": needs and expectations of the Taiwanese cadaveric organ donor families during the pre-donation transition.

There has been little study of the Chinese cadaveric donor family's decisions to donate organs within the Chinese cultural framework. A convenience sample of 25 cadaveric donor family members (12 men, 13 women) who gave their consent to donation at National Taiwan University Hospital agreed to participate in this study and completed in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed by a three-steps within-method qualitative triangulation method. The factors influencing the donor family's decisions to donate organs, the needs of donor families, and their expectations of health care providers during the pre-donation transition--the critical period of time between signing a donation and consent to organ harvesting--were examined. The background context and a conceptual framework were further developed to discuss and depict this phenomenon. This project aims to broaden the horizon on organ donation and contribute to the understanding of some of the psychodynamic issues in the Chinese family in Taiwan.

[Marginal leakage of glass ionomer as filling material for proximal decay in endodontic treatment].

The primary purpose of sealing proximal tooth defects during endodontic treatment is to prevent fluid, organic or bacterial contamination of the root canal system. At times, glass ionomers are used to restore proximal tooth defects between appointments, and after the root canal therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sealing ability of glass ionomers in teeth having proximal defects during root canal therapy. Sixty lower molars were extracted and prepared with standard endodontic access procedures. The mesial wall was then removed to mimic a proximal defect, and the tooth was filled with a glass ionomer in various thicknesses--0.8, 1.2 and 1.5 mm, respectively. After thermocycline treatment, all of the teeth were partially immersed in a 1% methylene blue dye for two weeks. During this period, the glass ionomer was directly observed to determine if any marginal leakage occurred. The glass ionomer was unacceptable if the dye penetrated to the interior wall of the pulp chamber. If not, it was classified as acceptable. The results indicated that dye penetration or leakage was least likely to occur in a 1.5 mm glass ionomer group.

[Evaluation of the apical seal produced by a hybrid root canal filling method, combining lateral condensation and thermomechanical compaction].

The present study measured apical leakage to a dye in roots filled by a hybrid root canal filling method, combining lateral condensation and thermomechanical compaction. The canals of 52 extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were endodontically prepared and divided into 3 groups. Lateral condensation was used in one group. The roots of the second one were filled using thermomechanical compaction. The roots of the third group were filled using hybrid method. After immersion in Procion Brilliant Green, the roots were cleared for measuring the depth of penetration of the dye under stereomicroscope. The roots filled with the hybrid method leaked less than the lateral condensation group, yet the difference was not significant (P greater than 0.05). The roots filled with both hybrid method and lateral condensation leaked significantly less (p less than 0.05) than the thermomechanical compaction group.