Effect of two irrigating solutions on antimicrobial activity and clinical and radiographic success after endodontic treatment in primary teeth: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity, clinical and radiographic outcome of pulpectomy in primary teeth using either 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) as irrigants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical study in which primary teeth were allocated to 1% NaOCl (n = 20) and 2% CHX (n = 20) groups. Microbiological collections were performed before and after irrigation for agar culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Clinical and radiographic success was assessed at different times. Data were submitted to descriptive analysis, chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon tests (p  < .05). RESULTS: For 1% NaOCl, the following clinical and radiographic success rates were observed: 7 days (93%/80%); 30 days, 3 and 6 months (100%). For 2% CHX: 7 days (73%/53%); 30 days (93%); 3 months (100%/93%); 6 months (100%) (p > .05). One percent NaOCl and 2% CHX effectively reduced total microorganisms (p < .05) but not mutans streptococci (p > .05). In qPCR analysis, the solutions promoted a reduction of total bacteria and Streptococcus mutans, and no difference was observed between times and groups (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: One percent NaOCl and 2% CHX were effective for clinical and radiographic success and antimicrobial activity in primary teeth submitted to pulpectomy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Studying the antimicrobial activity and clinical and radiographic outcomes of pulpectomy in primary teeth using NaOCl and CHX as irrigants is clinically relevant because it provides information for optimizing treatment protocols and improving the quality of care for pediatric patients. It contributes to evidence-based practice and can potentially lead to better outcomes, reduced complications, and enhanced patient experiences.

Treatment outcomes of pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in vital primary molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: protocol for a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulpectomy continues to be the standard treatment recommendation for management of vital primary molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. The recent decade has seen a paradigm shift in the treatment concepts of how vital mature permanent molars diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis can be more conservatively managed using vital pulp therapy techniques like pulpotomy. However, despite emerging evidence indicating similarities between primary and permanent tooth pulp response to dental caries, there is limited research on whether pulpotomy can be similarly used as a definitive treatment modality for vital primary teeth with irreversible pulpitis. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the treatment effectiveness of pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in management of vital primary molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis over a two-year period. METHODS/DESIGN: This clinical study is a parallel, two-armed, open label, non-inferiority RCT with a 1:1 allocation ratio between the experimental intervention arm (pulpotomy) and the active comparator arm (pulpectomy). Healthy cooperative children, between 4-9 years of age, who have painful primary molars with clinical symptoms typical of irreversible pulpitis will be recruited after obtaining informed consent from their parents/legal guardians. 50 vital primary molars clinically diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis will be randomly distributed between the two treatment arms. The primary outcomes that will be assessed are clinical and radiographic success after six-months, one-year and two-years of the trial interventions. The influence of baseline pre-operative variables (age; gender; tooth type; site of caries; pre-operative furcal radiolucency; pre-operative pain intensity) and intra-operative factors (time taken to achieve haemostasis) on treatment outcomes will also be assessed. The secondary outcome evaluated will be the immediate (24 h and 7 d) post-operative pain relief afforded by the two treatment interventions. DISCUSSION: This trial seeks to provide evidence on whether pulpotomy treatment can be no worse than the standard pulpectomy treatment for the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in vital primary molars. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06183203). Registered on 30 January 2024.

Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulpotomy as a minimally invasive pulp therapy technique is the treatment of choice for carious pulp exposures, however many pediatric dentists perform pulpectomies in vital primary incisors. The aim of this split mouth randomized controlled study was to compare formocresol pulpotomy and zinc-oxide and eugenol pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. METHODS: Contralateral pairs of incisors were randomly assigned to receive pulpotomy or pulpectomy in children aging from 18 to 66 months old and were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: 39 pairs of incisors were included. Clinical and radiographical success rates showed no statistical significant difference (p = 1, p = 0.8 respectively). Relative risk measures for clinical success rates (RR = 1.03, 95%CI 0.87 to 1.23) and for radiographic success rates (RR = 1.03, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.29) with CIs including number one showing no difference between the two groups. The Survival rate using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis score showed 82% for pulpotomy and 74% for pulpectomy at 12 months (P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Both pulpotomy and pulpectomy techniques can be used successfully in the treatment of carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered in Clinicaltrials .gov with this identifier NCT05589025 on 21/10/2022.

Has children's oral health-related quality of life improved more following necrotic primary molars pulpectomy or extraction?

STUDY DESIGN: A randomised parallel controlled clinical trial was conducted between 2013 and 2015 at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to assess the impact of pulpectomy or extraction on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with pulp necrosis in primary molars. STUDY SELECTION: Children between the ages of 3 and 5 who were in good health but had extensive caries in at least one primary molar with signs of pulpal necrosis (also as seen radiographically, caries reaching the pulp with no signs of internal or external resorption) were considered for inclusion. Additionally, teeth with sufficient structure for rubber dam placement were also included. Children with any systemic, neurological, or other conditions that negatively impacted their growth were excluded. CLINICAL PROCEDURES AND SUCCESS CRITERIA: After computer-generated randomisation, 100 children were assigned randomly into two groups: 50 in the pulpectomy group and 50 in the dental extraction group. A paediatric dentist performed all procedures under local anaesthesia without sedation or general anaesthesia, and a rubber dam was used for pulpectomy with composite restoration in a single session. The OHRQoL scores were evaluated at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months using the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) via face-to-face interviews with parents conducted by a researcher trained in a single-blinded fashion. Additionally, the child's self-reported dental anxiety was measured using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), and dental pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPS) immediately after the treatment as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The mean difference (SD) in the total B-ECOHIS score between baseline and after 12 months was 12.66 (6.79) for the pulpectomy group and 10.94 (9.28) for the extraction group, with effect sizes of 3.2 (95% CI: 2.42-4.20) and 1.4 (95% CI: 0.84-2.11), respectively. While both treatments significantly improved the children's OHRQoL after 12 months, the pulpectomy group showed greater long-term improvement compared to the extraction group, with mean differences (SD) of 4.86 (6.13) and effect sizes of 0.8 (0.46-1.13; p < 0.001). Moreover, children in the extraction group showed higher levels of anxiety compared with those in the pulpectomy group at 12-month follow-up (OR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.30-4.89), and they reported 93% more odds of 'dental pain with high level' immediately after treatment than those in the pulpectomy group (OR = 1.93; 95% CI = 0.83-4.49). CONCLUSION: Children treated with pulpectomy in their necrotic primary molars were found to have better OHRQoL than those who had their primary molars extracted.

Zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil as a new root canal filling material in primary molars: a clinical randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The complex root canal anatomy of primary teeth keeps it very tricky to attain appropriate cleansing by biomechanical instrumentation, so obtaining an obturating material with excellent antimicrobial properties is a challenge in current clinical pulpectomy practice. So, this study aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic performance of zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil as a primary root canal filling material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety non-vital primary molars in children ranging from 4 to 8 years were allocated into three groups in which root canals were filled with zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil, zinc oxide-olive oil, and zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) according to each group after pulpectomy procedure. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were done at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up periods. Statistical analysis was performed for the collected data. RESULTS: All study groups showed a significant improvement regarding clinical signs and symptoms during follow-up periods. Ozonated-olive oil group revealed a significant increase in furcation radiodensity and a decrease in periodontal ligament space at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up intervals compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: Zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil and zinc oxide-olive oil paste had shown good clinical and radiographic success for primary teeth pulpectomy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The intricate torturous primary root canal anatomy, in addition to the child's negative behavior, interferes with the complete debridement, so the long-lasting antibacterial effect of the primary root canal filling material aids in the pulpectomy success.

Lesion sterilization and tissue repair with chloramphenicol, tetracyline, zinc oxide/eugenol paste versus conventional pulpectomy: A 36-month randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Endodontic treatment of primary molars represents one of the challenges in pediatric dentistry. There is a lack of consensus in the literature about the endodontic techniques and filling paste for primary teeth with pulp necrosis. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of the LSTR technique (lesion sterilization and tissue repair) with CTZ paste (chloramphenicol, tetracycline, zinc oxide and eugenol) and pulpectomy with ZOE paste (zinc oxide and eugenol) in the treatment of primary molars with pulp necrosis. DESIGN: Eighty-eight primary molars with pulp necrosis from 70 children between the ages of 3 and 8 years were included. The teeth were randomized to the LSTR with CTZ paste group or pulpectomy with ZOE paste group. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 18, 24, 30 and 36 months. RESULTS: At 36 months, clinical success was 86.4% in LSTR with CTZ paste and 90.9% in pulpectomy with ZOE paste (p = .45). Radiographic success was 43.2% in both groups (p = 1.00). The overall success was 40.9% in LSTR with CTZ paste and 43.2% in pulpectomy with ZOE paste (p = 1.00). CONCLUSION: After 36 months of evaluation, the effectiveness of the LSTR technique with CTZ paste and pulpectomy with ZOE paste was similar for the treatment of primary molars with pulp necrosis.

A retrospective study of iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy compared with Vitapex pulpectomy for irreversible pulpitis of primary molars with the presence of coronal pulp tissue.

BACKGROUND: Pulpotomy has been successfully performed in immature and mature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis but rarely in primary teeth. AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy and Vitapex pulpectomy in primary molars with irreversible pulpitis. DESIGN: We selected 130 primary molars of 99 patients, aged 3-7 years, diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis with coronal pulp tissue and treated with iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy or Vitapex pulpectomy (median follow-up period: 18 months). They were divided into the pulpotomy (n = 88) and pulpectomy (n = 42) groups according to treatment procedure. The pulpotomy group was further divided into asymptomatic (n = 46) and symptomatic (n = 42) subgroups according to preoperative symptoms. The chi-squared test and Cox regression were performed to analyze the outcomes. RESULTS: Clinical and radiographic success rates were significantly higher in the pulpotomy group (98.9% and 95.5%) than in the pulpectomy group (88.1% and 54.8%) and did not differ significantly between asymptomatic and symptomatic pulpotomy subgroups. CONCLUSION: Irreversible pulpitis of primary molars with coronal pulp tissue can be successfully treated with iRoot BP Plus pulpotomy. Early intraradicular resorption of materials is the main adverse outcome of Vitapex pulpectomy.

Assessment of clinical and radiographic efficiency of manual and pediatric rotary file systems in primary root canal preparation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The success of primary teeth pulpectomy is strongly reliant on instrumentation techniques and their impact on obturation quality & postoperative pain. Recently, pediatric rotary file systems have been implemented. AIM: to compare two pediatric rotary file systems (Kedo-S-Square & Fanta AF™ Baby) with manual K-files concerning obturation quality, instrumentation time, and postoperative pain in root canal preparation of primary molars using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with the trial registration number (TRN: NCT05619796 and date of registration: (17/11/2022) on sixty primary lower 2nd molars in healthy children aged 4-7 years. Molars were assigned randomly to three groups (n = 20). Group-I and -II were prepared with Kedo-S-Square & Fanta AF™Baby rotary systems respectively while group-III was prepared with a manual K-file. Instrumentation time was recorded using a stopwatch. CBCT was used to assess obturation quality immediately & recorded as optimal, underfilled, or overfilled. Postoperative pain was evaluated at 6, 12, 24, 48 h-time intervals using a four-point pain intensity scale. Statistical analysis was performed for the collected data. RESULTS: Among the three groups, group-I revealed a greater number of optimally filled teeth (85%) & less instrumentation time (74.75 s) followed by group-II & manual-K file group (p < 0.05). The hand K-file group had significantly more postoperative pain than the two rotary groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: the tested rotary file systems resulted in better obturation quality, less instrumentation time, and less postoperative pain compared to manual-K files during primary teeth pulpectomy.

Incidence of Post-Operative Pain following a Single-Visit Pulpectomy in Primary Molars Employing Adaptive, Rotary, and Manual Instrumentation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background and Objectives. To differentiate the intensity of postoperative pain after primary molar pulpectomy employing manual instrumentation versus two single-file systems with different kinetics (the XP-Endo shaper file with adaptive instrumentation vs. the Kedo-SG blue file with continuous rotation instrumentation). Materials and Methods. This three-arm, single-blind, randomized clinical trial included assessing 75 healthy children between 4 to 9 years who required pulpectomy for primary molars (mandibular first and second). The three groups each had an equal number of children. Children in Group 1 had their teeth instrumented with the XP-endo Shaper, children in Group 2 had their teeth instrumented with the Kedo-SG Blue file, and children in Group 3 had their teeth instrumented manually using K-files. The degree of postoperative pain was measured using a four-point pain scale at 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, and 72-h following therapy. Each participant's parent received five flashcards with four faces and a word characterizing each face. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests. The level of significance was set to 5%. Results. During the follow-up period, there was a significant difference in postoperative pain intensity between the three groups. The XP-endo shaper was associated with considerably decreased post operative at the 6- and 12-h interval followed by Kedo-SG. The highest post-operative discomfort across the groups was related to the patients who underwent manual instrumentation. Conclusion. In comparison to rotary and manual instrumentation, postoperative pain severity was reduced with adaptive instrumentation.

Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Various Herbal Products Used with Zinc Oxide as an Obturating Material in Primary Teeth: An In Vivo Study.

AIM: To compare the clinical and radiographically mixture of zinc oxide with Aloe vera, Curcumin and neem as an obturating material for pulpectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised of age group 4-8 years children requiring endodontic treatment for at least a single primary molar tooth. Sixty primary molar teeth from 43 children were divided equally and randomly into four study groups. The materials used for obturation were zinc oxide powder (ZnO) and Eugenol (ZOE) (group I), ZnO and Aloe vera Gel (group II), ZnO and Curcumin Powder (group III), ZnO and neem extract (group IV). They were evaluated clinically and radiographically at immediate postoperative and then at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 9-month intervals. RESULTS: At the end of 9 months, the Chi-square test revealed 100% success rate for recovery of pain in group I and III, 66.66% in group II and 93.3% in group IV. The success rates for absence of abscess and for periradicular radiolucency in group I, III, and group IV were 100% and 66.6% for group II. The success rate for periapical radiolucency in group I and group III was 100%, in group II 66.6% and in group IV 93.35%. The success rate for all the groups shows 100% success in terms of pathological root resorption. CONCLUSION: Zinc oxide eugenol has proven to be the best obturating material. ZnO with Aloe vera showed a success rate which is significantly lower than the other medicaments. ZnO with Curcumin and ZnO with neem had shown promising clinical and radiographical results. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: ZnO with Curcumin and ZnO with neem can be used as a root canal filling material in primary teeth with further follow-up studies.

Adaptive instrumentation of root canals in primary teeth using XP-endo shaper: a case series.

Dental caries is indeed the biggest cause of tooth loss, particularly in the primary dentition. In primary teeth with carious pulp involvements, endodontic intervention in the form of pulpotomy (removal of only the coronal pulp) or pulpectomy (removal of coronal and radicular pulp) is advocated. Pulpectomy can be laborious and time-consuming, especially when using traditional hand endodontic files to shape root canals. In paediatric dentistry, motorised nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary instrumentation has proved significant in enhancing the quality of pulpectomy. In primary dentition, however, these files may leave more than half of the root canals unaltered by instrumentation, just as they do in permanent dentition. The XP-endo® Shaper is a revolutionary heat-dependent endodontic file that uses an asymmetrical rotating motion to address the maximum area of the root canal space, resulting in anatomic root canal instrumentation. The case series describes the use of this novel XP-endo® Shaper file for anatomic root canal instrumentation in primary molars with irreversible pulpitis. The purpose is to demonstrate the efficacy and advantages of this cutting-edge endodontic treatment method. This case series can be an informative resource for other endodontic specialists by providing a practical illustration of how adaptable instrumentation can be utilised to successfully treat a patient. In conclusion, The use of the XP-endo Shaper® for pulpectomy demonstrated faster and instrumentation that was confined with the original shape of the canals, although further research is required to fully utilise these findings.

Are electronic apex locators accurate in determining working length in primary teeth pulpectomies? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.

BACKGROUND: The lack of a well-defined apical constriction in primary teeth raises concerns regarding the accuracy of electronic apex locators (EALs) for measuring working length. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of EALs in determining working length in primary teeth pulpectomies. METHODS: Two reviewers searched ten databases up to September 2021. Clinical studies evaluating the accuracy of the electronic measurement of working length in primary teeth pulpectomies were included. Studies without a comparison group, with samples smaller than ten root canals, and that did not use a multiple frequency EAL were excluded. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the paired differences in mean lengths between measurements obtained by electronic and comparative methods. In addition, a meta-analysis of proportion was applied according to the level of difference between the measures. The risk of bias and applicability of the studies were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. The certainty of evidence was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies were included in the qualitative analysis and twenty-three in the quantitative analysis. The methods of comparison for the electronic measurement were the radiographic method, radiovisiographic, scanning electron microscopy, and direct visualization. The meta-analysis showed that the electronic measurement tends to be shorter than radiographic measurement, while the other methods showed no difference. The proportion analysis showed a higher pooled proportion of difference values between electronic and comparative measurements within -0.5 to +0.5 mm (69.31%). The certainty of the evidence suggested very low confidence in estimating the outcome. DISCUSSION: The results of this review denote a good performance of the EALs in determining working length in primary teeth pulpectomies. However, these results are based on clinical studies with low methodological quality and high heterogeneity, which require careful interpretation for clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results suggest acceptable accuracy of EALs in determining working length in primary teeth pulpectomies, the low quality of the included studies and the very low certainty of the evidence require clinicians to interpret these results with caution. More robust evidence is required to support that these devices are accurate for primary teeth. REGISTRATION: CRD42021277414 (PROSPERO).

Efficacy of an iodoform-based filling material for pulpectomy of primary teeth: A 24-month non-inferiority randomized clinical trial.

AIM: The aim of this non-inferiority randomized clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of an iodoform-based paste (Guedes-Pinto -(GP)) as a filling material in pulpectomies of primary teeth, and a standard material composed by calcium hydroxide and iodoform (CaOH/Iodof paste; Vitapex® ). DESIGN: A total of 104 teeth from 61 children (3-8 years old) were randomly allocated to two groups according to filling materials. Children were followed up for 24 months. The primary endpoint was the treatment success rate evaluated through clinical and radiographic examinations at follow-up, and the secondary outcome was the analysis of the canal filling quality. Differences in the proportion of treatment success was calculated based on 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and with the Miettinen and Nurminen method in the intention-to-treat population, considering a -20% of the non-inferiority limit. RESULTS: From 104 randomized teeth, 102 were followed up after 24 months (attrition rate of 1.9%). The success rate of teeth treated with the GP paste was 86.8% (95% CI: 69.9-94.9) and 78.4% (95% CI: 61.8-89.1) with the CaOH/Iodof paste. Consequently, a non-inferiority of the GP paste was observed when compared to the CaOH/Iodof paste (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The GP paste has a non-inferior success rate than the CaOH/Iodof paste used as filling material for pulpectomy in primary teeth.

Stainless steel crown vs bulk fill composites for the restoration of primary molars post-pulpectomy: 1-year survival and acceptance results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: A key factor for the success and longevity of the endodontic treatment is sealing of the cavity after restorative treatment. AIM: The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to evaluate the 1-year survival of endodontic treatment in primary molars restored with stainless steel crowns (SSCs) and bulk fill composite resin (BF). As a secondary outcome, the acceptance of both children and parents was evaluated. DESIGN: Ninety-one 3- to 8-year-old children with at least one primary molar requiring endodontic treatment were selected. Participants were randomized to SSC or BF and evaluated after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. An acceptance questionnaire was completed immediately after the treatment. The primary outcome was the endodontic treatment success, evaluated in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population using the Kaplan-Meier and non-inferiority Cox regression analyses, with a non-inferiority limit of 15%. Sensitivity analysis between the success rates after 1 year was performed using Miettinen-Nurminen's method. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the treatment acceptance (α = 5%). RESULTS: The survival rate after 1 year was BF = 75% and SSC = 88% (HR = 1.41; 90% CI 0.57-3.43). ITT analysis showed a success rate of BF = 86.7% and SSC = 82.6% (RR = 0.95; 0.78-1.16). The non-inferiority hypothesis between the survival of endodontic treatment could not be proved in both analyses (P > .05). The overall acceptance scores did not differ between the restorative groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: This study failed to show non-inferiority of BF compared with the SSC. The materials were well accepted by both children and their parents.

Postoperative pain after primary molar pulpectomy using rotary or reciprocating single files: A superior, parallel, randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To compare postoperative pain intensity between two single-file systems with different kinetics (the OneShape file with continuous rotation vs. the WaveOne Gold file with reciprocation movement) after primary molar pulpectomy. DESIGN: This superiority, parallel, randomized clinical trial included 164 healthy children aged 6 to 8 years with asymptomatic, necrotic, maxillary primary second molars due to caries. An equal number of children were assigned to the two groups. The teeth of children in Group 1 were instrumented with the OneShape rotary system (Micro-Mega), whereas teeth of children in Group 2 were instrumented with the WaveOne Gold reciprocating system (Dentsply Maillefer). Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using a 4-point pain scale at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h and 1 week after treatment. The parent of each participant received 6 flashcards that included four faces and a word describing each face. A chi-square test was used to compare postoperative pain intensity. The level of significance was set to 5%. RESULTS: Over the follow-up period, no significant difference in postoperative pain intensity was found between the two groups (p > .05). Although the absolute risk reduction maximum limit of 95% CI equal or exceeded the predetermined proportional difference of 0.15, pain intensity was inconclusive at 6, 24, and 48 hours denoting that the superiority of the OneShape single-file over the WaveOne Gold single-file could not be declared. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pain intensity associated with a rotary vs. reciprocating file system was nearly similar.

Anti-microbial efficacy of root canal preparation in deciduous teeth with manual and rotary files: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: In a pulpectomy, the eradication of microbes from the primary root canal is accomplished through biomechanical preparation, which could be carried out with either manual or rotary instruments. Aims: The objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficiency of manual K-files, H-files, and Kedo-S Square rotary files in reducing microbial flora after canal preparation in primary molars. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial consisted of 45 primary molars requiring pulpectomy. The teeth were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: Group I: Manual K-files, Group II: Manual H-files, and Group III: Kedo-S Square rotary files, based on the type of instrumentation. Pre-and Post-instrumentation sampling was performed using clean absorbent paper points and kept in a clean Eppendorf tube having thioglycolate broth as the transport medium. Culturing was performed on agar media from which both aerobic and anaerobic microbial counts were estimated. Collected data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Following root canal preparation, 87-89% reduction of the aerobic and anaerobic microbial load was noted in group I, whereas it was an 89-92% reduction in group II and a 93-95% reduction in group III. Results: Biomechanical preparation with Kedo-S Square rotary file showed higher efficacy in microbial reduction compared to manual instrumentation. Conclusion: Manual and rotary files were equally effective in removing root canal microbes. Biomechanical preparation with a KedoS Square rotary file resulted in greater microbial efficacy. Hence In children, effective root canal cleaning in a short period of time is a major consideration.

Resorbable Collagen Barrier Impeding the Extrusion of Obturating Material in Primary Molars Undergoing Resorption - A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of placing a resorbable collagen barrier in impeding the extrusion of obturation material in primary molars undergoing resorption. STUDY DESIGN: All the 94 canals in 47 mandibular molars were allocated to 2 groups- Group 'A'- 47 canals with collagen barrier (Test group) and Group 'B'- 47 canals without collagen barrier (Control group) based on randomization protocol. Pulpectomy was performed and obturation of both test and control canals were radiographically assessed. Pearson's chi - square test was applied to analyze the results. The significance level was predetermined at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Among the test group, 93.6% of the canals showed no extrusion while, 6.4% showed visible extrusion of the material outside the apex. In the control group, 83% showed no extrusion whereas 17% of the canals showed visible extrusion outside the apex. But no significant difference was noted (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The placement of resorbable collagen barrier in the apical third of the canal prevented the extrusion of obturating material beyond the apex in resorbing primary molars.

Treatment Outcomes of Pulpectomy in Primary Maxillary Incisors Filled with ZOE and Metapex: A Two-year Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: To address a literature gap by evaluating, in a larger set of samples, the clinical and radiographic outcomes of pulpectomy in primary maxillary incisors using ZOE and calcium hydroxide/iodoform paste. To also identify the predisposing factors for treatment outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Medical charts of 124 patients (aged 16 to 60 months) and radiographs of their incisors (309 incisors) were reviewed (128 with ZOE and 181 with Metapex). All incisors were restored with composite resin crowns. RESULTS: The radiographic success rates for ZOE and Metapex were: 85.9% and 82.9% at the 12-month recall, and 69.2% and 64% at the 24-month recall, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Clinical failures occurred more frequently in the Metapex group (P = 0.006), as clinical signs of pain and soft tissue pathosis were found in 6.2% of the Metapex cases at 24 months but none in the ZOE group. Significant predisposing factors for radiographic success were type of tooth, degree of obturation at recalls, and preoperative root resorption. CONCLUSIONS: The radiographic success rates are comparable between the ZOE and Metapex groups. Clinical pathological manifestations such as pain and soft tissue pathosis are seen in the Metapex group at recalls, but none in the ZOE group. Predisposing factors such as type of incisor, preoperative root resorption, and extent of filling at recalls are associated with the radiographic success rate.

Are different pulp treatment techniques and associated medicaments effective for the treatment of extensive decay in primary teeth?

Data sources Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register and Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline Ovid, Embase Ovid, Web of Science, Open Grey, US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register and World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. There were no restrictions on language or publication dates.Study selection Two reviewers selected randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing different pulp interventions in extensively decayed primary teeth, which combined a pulp treatment technique and a medicament.Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted independently by two reviewers recording year of publication, country of origin, inclusion/exclusion criteria, description of interventions, sample size, mean age, duration of follow-up and outcome data. Risk of bias was assessed by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed on RCTs comparing different medicaments for the same pulp technique or different pulp treatment techniques with each other.Results Eighty-seven RCTs were included in qualitative synthesis, yielding 59 studies for meta-analysis. The 87 RCTs involved 7,140 randomised teeth with 17 split-mouth RCTs and 70 parallel arm design. In total, 125 different comparisons were examined using clinical and radiological failure rates; 75 compared different pulpotomy agents or techniques, 25 compared different pulpectomy agents, four compared pulpotomy and pulpectomy, and 21 compared different agents for direct pulp capping. Where possible, data were compared for 6, 12 and 24 months. For pulpotomy, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) appears least likely to fail over those time periods. For pulpectomy, results were inconclusive comparing failure rates between various agents; however, two RCTs found a lower failure rate for zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) compared with Vitapex. For direct pulp capping, there was a low number of studies undertaking the same comparisons; calcium silicates (eg MTA and Biodentine) hold future promise.Conclusions Overall, evidence quality ranged from moderate to very low. For pulpotomy, MTA may be the best pulpotomy medicament in primary molars. Formocresol is effective but generally accepted as toxic. Biodentine, enamel matrix derivatives, laser application or Ankaferd Blood Stopper (a plant-based haemostatic agent used to control gastrointestinal bleeds) appear to be second choices. If all of these are unavailable, an application of sodium hypochlorite may be the safest option. For pulpectomy, evidence was inconclusive; however, ZOE paste may be more effective than Vitapex, but no further conclusions could be made. For direct pulp capping, the evidence was of low to very low quality. The best alternative may be a tricalcium silicate, especially MTA. Future RCTs may change these findings.

The Roots of Pressure Anesthesia and its Contemporary Similarities.

For decades dentists have faced the challenge of achieving profound anesthesia in the presence of a severe tooth ache. Frequently this challenge was more acute when the tooth or teeth in question were mandibular molars. Over a 125 years ago this clinical dilemma was managed by using cocaine, both directly on an exposed dental pulp and often times using a solution of such injected directly into the pulp. Both clinical applications were considered as achieving "pressure anesthesia" sufficient to permit pulp extirpation. This historical perspective will focus on both the origins of this approach and its contemporary counterparts.