International questionnaire study on systemic antibiotics in endodontics. Part 1. Prescribing practices for endodontic diagnoses and clinical scenarios.

OBJECTIVES: Part 1 of this two-part study aims to investigate systemic antibiotics (SA) prescribing practices for various endodontic diagnoses and clinical scenarios by general practitioners, post-graduate students and endodontists in Israel and the former Soviet Union (FSU) states. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 7500 dentists from Israel and FSU states were invited to fill in an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted the SA prescribing for endodontic diagnoses and clinical scenarios (post operative pain, post apical surgery and post avulsion). The international guidelines of the European Society of Endodontology and the American Association of Endodontists were used as the standard of correct practice. RESULTS: A total of 1310 dentists (response rate of 17.46%, 498 Israeli and 812 FSU dentists) completed the survey. The rates of prescription SA among the Israeli and the FSU respondents for non-recommended diagnoses and clinical scenarios were 24.75% and 11.42% (P>0.05), 16.57% and 16.17% (P>0.05) respectively. The rates of prescription SA among the Israeli and the FSU respondents for recommended diagnoses and clinical scenarios were 63.39% and 62.9% (P>0.05), 27.2% and 13.9% (P>0.05) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There are gaps between the recommended protocols for prescribing SA for patients with various endodontic diagnoses and clinical scenarios and the actual practices among Israeli and FSU dentists. Continuing education of dentists must be encouraged in order to improve SA prescription practice according to international guidelines. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When not indicated, prescription of systemic antibiotics might lead to antimicrobial resistance, while non-prescription, when required, might have negative repercussions on the patient's health. Knowledge of the prescription habits of dentists in the endodontic practice will help prevent harmful situations.

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Class 4 Invasive Cervical Resorption with Internal Approach: A Case Series.

Invasive cervical resorption (ICR) is a type of external resorption that can involve the coronal, middle, and apical parts of the root in its advanced stages. The diagnosis and treatment of ICR depend on the extent of the resorption into the dentin. The treatment of advanced ICR is challenging, and these teeth have poor prognoses. This article describes 4 cases of class 4 ICR diagnosed by using cone-beam computed tomography and treated with a minimally invasive internal approach with sodium hypochlorite irrigation and calcium hydroxide dressing. All cases were followed for at least 3 years.