Influence of different irrigant activation methods on apical debris extrusion and bacterial elimination from infected root canals.

Introduction: The study aimed to determine the apical debris extrusion and microbial elimination from infected root canals after using different irrigant activation methods. Materials and Methods: Forty freshly extracted human mandibular premolars were selected and randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10). The teeth were mechanically prepared, sterilized, and inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis for 1 week. Irrigation was done with 3% sodium hypochlorite following conventional syringe irrigation-Group 1, manual dynamic agitation (MDA)-Group 2, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI)-UltraX -Group 3, and sonic irrigation (SI)-EndoActivator -Group 4, and the extruded debris were collected using Myers and Montgomery model. The microbial samples were taken from the canals using sterile paper points, cultured and recorded as colonies. The amount of extruded debris was measured by subtracting the final weight of the Eppendorf tube with debris from the initial weight of the tube. Results: I. Group 3 showed the least apical debris extrusion (P < 0.05), followed by Groups 2 and 1 and the highest with Group 4. II. Group 3 showed the least colony-forming units (CFUs)/ml, followed by Group 4, and finally, Group 2 showed lesser mean CFUs/ml compared to Group 1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All the irrigation activation methods were associated with apical debris extrusion, with the PUI system extruding the least amount of debris compared to the other groups. Irrigation activation techniques were beneficial in reducing the microbial load from the infected canals with the PUI system showing a complete elimination of the microbes, followed by SI and MDA.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin with ß-Tricalcium Phosphate-A Noval Approach for Bone Augmentation in Chronic Periapical Lesion: A Case Report.

Introduction. This paper describes a case of bone augmentation with combination of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and ß-TCP for treatment of chronic periapical cyst. The case was followed for 12 months. Methods. Patient presented with chronic periapical lesion in maxillary anterior teeth with history of trauma 8 years back. Radiographically, a periapical cyst was seen in relation to maxillary left central and lateral incisors. Conventional endodontic treatment was started. Since it was not successful, apical surgery was performed. Bone augmentation was done using PRF in combination with ß-TCP bone graft to achieve faster healing of the periapical region. Regular followups at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were done. Results. Healing was uneventful. Follow-up examinations revealed progressive, significant, and predictable clinical and radiographic bone regeneration/healing without any clinical symptoms. Conclusions. Combined use of PRF and ß-TCP for bone augmentation in treatment of periapical defects is a potential treatment alternative for faster healing than using these biomaterials alone.

LED's--future technology in curing scenario?--an in-vitro study.

The long term clinical success of composite restoration depends upon appropriate curing light sources. This in-vitro comparative study investigates the influence of conventional halogen and light emitting diode curing sources on the surface hardness, depth of cure and polymerization shrinkage of composites specimens of 8 mm diameter and 10 mm in height were used to study the depth of cure. Specimens of dimension 8.6 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth were used to measure the surface hardness and polymerization shrinkage. The results showed that in the long run LED's seem to have great potential to achieve a clinically consistent quality of composite cure.

A comparative evaluation of medicated calcium sulphate, hydroxylapatite, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as barrier and their effect on the sealing ability of furcation perforation repair material--an in vitro study.

Artificial communication between the root canal system and supporting tissues of the tooth lowers the prognosis of the endodontic treatment. Studies have found that the second most common reason for failure association with endodontic treatment is root perforation. Hence a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of calcium sulphate, hydroxylapatite and MTA as internal matrix and their ability on the sealing ability of the perforation repair material (GIC) on 70 recently extracted molar with non fused roots. MTA showed the least microleakage and best sealing ability and resin modified GIC when used alone without any internal matrix showed maximum microleakage and least sealing ability.