The Outcomes of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored with Custom-Made Cast Post-and-Core Restorations: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Custom-made cast post-and-core (CMCPC) restorations have long been used to restore structurally deficient endodontically treated teeth (ETT). However, the evidence regarding their impact on the outcomes of ETT is largely inconclusive. This study evaluated the long-term treatment outcome of ETT restored with CMCPC. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined the dental records of patients that received CMCPC at a specialty private practice in Toronto, Canada between 1999 and 2021. The proportion of ETT with complete periapical healing and those that survived were estimated, and prognostic factors were investigated using multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses respectively (P < .05). RESULTS: A total of 500 and 1000 teeth met periapical healing and survival criteria, respectively. The periapical healing rate was 88.8% and was associated with the presence of baseline periapical radiolucency [odds ratio = 0.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.05-0.2; P < .001]. The survival after a median follow-up time of 52.9 months (interquartile range: 26.5-99.4) was 90.1% and was associated with <75% of root length in bone [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.0-6.6; P = .033], type and quality of final restoration (HR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9; P = .020; HR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.5; P = .008, respectively), and the presence of periapical radiolucency at the latest recall (HR = 3.2; 95% CI, 1.7-6.3; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of ETT restored with CMCPC was favorable. CMCPC may be regarded as a viable restorative option for structurally deficient ETT.

Customizable live-cell imaging chambers for multimodal and multiplex fluorescence microscopy.

Using multiple imaging modalities while performing independent experiments in parallel can greatly enhance the throughput of microscopy-based research, but requires the provision of appropriate experimental conditions in a format that meets the optical requirements of the microscope. Although customized imaging chambers can meet these challenges, the difficulty of manufacturing custom chambers and the relatively high cost and design inflexibility of commercial chambers has limited the adoption of this approach. Herein, we demonstrate the use of 3D printing to produce inexpensive, customized, live-cell imaging chambers that are compatible with a range of imaging modalities, including super-resolution microscopy. In this approach, biocompatible plastics are used to print imaging chambers designed to meet the specific needs of an experiment, followed by adhesion of the printed chamber to a glass coverslip, producing a chamber that is impermeant to liquids and that supports the growth and imaging of cells over multiple days. This approach can also be used to produce moulds for casting microfluidic devices made of polydimethylsiloxane. The utility of these chambers is demonstrated using designs for multiplex microscopy, imaging under shear, chemotaxis, and general cellular imaging. Together, this approach represents an inexpensive yet highly customizable approach for producing imaging chambers that are compatible with modern microscopy techniques.