Pattern of Disinfection of Root Canal Dentin by Alternated Acid-Base Irrigating Regimen.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify Enterococcus faecalis density in root canal dentin after chemomechanical preparation (CMP) using alternated irrigating regimen. METHODOLOGY: Root canals (RC) were contaminated with E. faecalis (ATCC 19433) for 3 weeks and evident biofilms were obtained. After initial sampling (S1), the CMP was aided by irrigants: saline solution (control; n=12), a conventional regimen (CR) (group 1; n=12) using 5.25% NaOCl and a final rinse with 17% EDTA, and an alternating regimen (AR) of intercalated use of NaOCl and EDTA (group 2, n=12), followed by a second sampling (S2). After 2 weeks, S3 was obtained. Two roots were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Each root was divided into cervical, mild, and apical segments and sampling of the superficial (n=90) and deep (n=90) dentin layers was obtained using Gates-Glidden burs. The E. faecalis density (CFU/mg) in log10 was categorized as residual (0 > 0.2), moderate (0.2 ≥ 0.5), or elevated (> 0.5). The prevalence of positive samples in BHI and BHI-A was analyzed by Pearson's chi-square test. The data were normalized by a log10 transformation of CFU and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests. RESULTS: Biofilms were observed only in the control root canal walls. Topographically, the controls and CR showed similar distributions of E. faecalis in the dentin. Microbiologically positive root canals harbored much E. faecalis in the adjacent dentin (p < 0.05). Irrigating saline provided moderate density of E. faecalis in the dentin while CR and AR resulted in a residual density of microorganisms (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Enterococcus faecalis density in dentin was influenced by the irrigating regimen and the microbiological status of the root canal. The CMP aided by the alternating regimen interfered with the recolonization of the root canal and topographic distribution of Enterococcus in root dentin.

Passive ultrasonic irrigation in root canal: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there are differences between the root canal disinfection, comparing the passive ultrasonic irrigation technique with the conventional technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following electronic databases were searched: Pubmed; VHL; Web of Sciences and OVID with no publication date restriction. The study's quality evaluation was carried out using the Handbook by Cochrane. The online research identified 5464 studies. From the nine studies selected for a full reading of the text, five were included in the present systematic review. Meta-analysis was performed in three articles, which evaluated the root canal's cleanness through microbiological analysis. RESULTS: Only one article concluded that the ultrasonic passive irrigation showed a better performance compared with the conventional irrigation. None of the articles analyzed presented a low risk of bias in all domains. According to the results of the meta-analysis, there was no statistical difference between the groups (OR = 0.34, IC 95%: 0.10-1.19). CONCLUSIONS: The level of evidence comparing the two techniques is fragile since in all studies some type of bias was observed which may interfere in the results and conclusions.

Association between executive/attentional functions and caries in children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the existence of an association between attention/executive functions and the development of dental caries in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Seventy-six children with CP were selected from a physical rehabilitation center and a school serving children with disabilities. The control group was made up of 89 children without neurological impairment. Socioeconomic status, presence of teeth with cavities due to caries, degree of motor impairment and intellectual, executive and attentional functions were assessed. Mean age of participants was 8.9 years (SD=3.56). The CP group had a significantly lower performance (p<0.05, Mann-Whitney test) on the intelligence, attentional function and executive function tests in comparison to the control group. Controlling for the clinical diagnosis (CP or control group), motor impairment and intellectual function, the significant explanatory variables for the presence of teeth with cavities were performance on the Complex Rey figure test (OR=0.941) and the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children in backward order (OR=0.581). After controlling for intellectual function, clinical diagnosis and motor impairment, deficits in executive and attentional functions increased the odds of developing dental caries in children with cerebral palsy.

Does intellectual disability affect the development of dental caries in patients with cerebral palsy?

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the severity of intellectual disability is a factor that affects the development of dental cavities in patients with cerebral palsy. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 165 individuals who were selected from a physical rehabilitation center, a special public school and a regular public school. Of these, 76 individuals had been diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy and 89 had no neurological impairment. The subjects were matched based on age and gender and selected randomly by lottery. All patients were examined to determine the number of dental cavities, and tested for their intellectual functioning (Raven Test) and motor abilities. The study showed that children with CP who presented with intellectual disabilities had a larger number of dental cavities than children with CP without intellectual disabilities. Considering intellectual functioning and motor impairment in the multivariate logistic regression, only intellectual functioning was found to have a significant effect on the development of dental cavities. These results suggest that intellectual disability can be considered a contributing factor for the development of dental caries in patients with cerebral palsy.

Dental trauma clinically mimicking single central incisor syndrome / Traumatismo dentário mimetizando clinicamente a síndrome do incisivo central único

PURPOSE: This paper presents a clinical case in which a patient was missing a median central incisor due to trauma but was referred for orthodontic treatment because of suspicions of solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 12-year-old female patient visited the clinic with concerns about the appearance of her teeth. An oral examination revealed the presence of a single central incisor that was located on the midline and was adjacent to the maxillary lateral incisors. The patient reported two episodes of dental avulsion (of teeth 11 and 21) that had occurred approximately four years earlier. Tooth 11 was replanted; however, it was subsequently extracted due to pain. A panoramic radiograph and cephalometric analysis revealed a history of unsuccessful root canal treatment on tooth 21, a straight profile and symmetrical facial features. Tooth 21 was extracted, followed by the traction of the maxillary teeth in the mesial direction and the esthetic transformation of the lateral incisors into central incisors and the canines into lateral incisors. CONCLUSION: Dental trauma followed by tooth loss may mimic solitary median maxillary central incisor syndrome.

OBJETIVO: Apresentar um caso clínico de ausência de um incisivo central perdido por traumatismo e encaminhado ao ortodontista com suspeita de apresentar síndrome do incisivo central único (SMMCI). DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Paciente gênero feminino, 12 anos com queixa da aparência de seus dentes. Ao exame intrabucal observou-se a presença de um incisivo central único localizado na linha média sem espaçamentos em relação aos incisivos laterais superiores. A paciente relatou dois episódios de avulsão dos dentes 11 e 21, cerca de quatro anos antes. No entanto, devido a sintomas de dor após reimplante, o dente 11 foi extraído. A radiografia panorâmica e análise cefalométrica revelou a presença de tratamento insatisfatório do canal radicular do dente 21, um perfil reto e padrão de equilíbrio facial. Extração do dente 21 foi realizada, com tração posterior dos dentes superiores na direção mesial, seguido pela transformação estética dos incisivos laterais em incisivos centrais e dos caninos em incisivos laterais. CONCLUSÃO: O traumatismo seguido de perda dentária pode mimetizar um quadro de síndrome do incisivo central único.

Oral and cutaneous melanoma: similarities and differences.

UNLABELLED: Melanomas are malignant lesions stemming from the disorganized proliferation of melanocytes. This condition is more common on skin, but may also be detected in mucosa, such as in the oral cavity. The aim of the present study was to report similarities and differences between oral and cutaneous melanoma. KEYWORDS: Melanoma; Skin; Mouth; Diagnosis.