Mercury intrusion porosimetry and assessment of cement-dentin interface of anti-washout-type mineral trioxide aggregate.

INTRODUCTION: One of the disadvantages of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is washout (ie, the tendency of freshly prepared cement paste to disintegrate upon early contact with physiological fluids). A novel MTA (MTA Plus; Prevest Denpro, Jammu City, India) exhibits low washout and superior physical properties when mixed with a gel instead of water. When used as a root-end filler, MTA is in contact with both bone and root dentin. This study aimed to investigate the porosity and interfacial characteristics of the novel MTA mixed with water or antiwashout gel. METHODS: Porosity was evaluated after 1 or 28 days of immersion in Hank's balanced salt solution using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The root dentin to material interface was investigated using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy complete with line scans and elemental maps. RESULTS: Anti-washout-type MTA Plus was found to have lower initial porosity than MTA Plus mixed with water although this trend was reversed after 28 days of immersion in physiological fluid. Both materials exhibited good marginal adaptation. The diffusion of silicon, calcium, and phosphorus across the cement/dentin interface was observed. CONCLUSIONS: MTA Plus mixed with antiwashout gel was found to have lower initial porosity than MTA Plus mixed with water. Both materials exhibited good marginal adaptation and the diffusion of silicon, calcium, and phosphorous across the cement/dentin interface. Thus, the anti-washout-type MTA can be considered to be a suitable substitute for ordinary MTA in all its indications.

Five-year longitudinal assessment of the prognosis of apical microsurgery.

INTRODUCTION: Apical surgery is an important treatment option for teeth with post-treatment apical periodontitis. Knowledge of the long-term prognosis is necessary when weighing apical surgery against alternative treatments. This study assessed the 5-year outcome of apical surgery and its predictors in a cohort for which the 1-year outcome was previously reported. METHODS: Apical microsurgery procedures were uniformly performed using SuperEBA (Staident International, Staines, UK) or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (ProRoot MTA; Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK) root-end fillings or alternatively Retroplast capping (Retroplast Trading, Rorvig, Denmark). Subjects examined at 1 year (n = 191) were invited for the 5-year clinical and radiographic examination. Based on blinded, independent assessment by 3 calibrated examiners, the dichotomous outcome (healed or nonhealed) was determined and associated with patient-, tooth-, and treatment-related variables using logistic regression. RESULTS: At the 5-year follow-up, 9 of 191 teeth were unavailable, 12 of 191 teeth were extracted, and 170 of 191 teeth were examined (87.6% recall rate). A total of 129 of 170 teeth were healed (75.9%) compared with 83.8% at 1 year, and 85.3% were asymptomatic. Two significant outcome predictors were identified: the mesial-distal bone level at ≤ 3 mm versus >3 mm from the cementoenamel junction (78.2% vs 52.9% healed, respectively; odds ratio = 5.10; confidence interval, 1.67-16.21; P < .02) and root-end fillings with ProRoot MTA versus SuperEBA (86.4% vs. 67.3% healed, respectively; odds ratio = 7.65; confidence interval, 2.60-25.27; P < .004). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the 5-year prognosis after apical microsurgery was 8% poorer than assessed at 1 year. It also suggested that the prognosis was significantly impacted by the interproximal bone levels at the treated tooth and by the type of root-end filling material used.

Microscopic periradicular surgery: perioperative predictors for postoperative clinical outcomes and quality of life assessment.

The authors report on data from a self-assessment questionnaire filled out by 199 patients undergoing periradicular microscopic surgery at two private endodontic offices and at graduate endodontic clinics of the University of Pennsylvania. Regression analysis was performed using pain and swelling as dependent variables and age, sex, type of teeth, location, periapical lesion, and remedication as independent variables. Pain and swelling were significantly related to females and younger patients (p < 0.05). The results supported Etodolac as a pre- and postoperative analgesic and use of antibiotics restricted to high-risk patients. Maximum pain and swelling were reported at night and day 1 of the surgery, respectively. Generally, swelling was more often reported than pain. Surgeries in anterior maxilla were related to more pain and swelling. A majority of the patients (67%) rated surgical endodontics more pleasant than expected and found it less painful (46%) or the same (38%) as nonsurgical treatment. The results also point out that patients in general have negative beliefs and limited knowledge about periradicular surgery.

Clinical and radiographic assessment of various predictors for healing outcome 1 year after periapical surgery.

This clinical study prospectively evaluated the influence of various predictors on healing outcome 1 year after periapical surgery. The study cohort included 194 teeth in an equal number of patients. Three teeth were lost for the follow-up (1.5% drop-out rate). Clinical and radiographic measures were used to determine the healing outcome. For statistical analysis, results were dichotomized (healed versus nonhealed). The overall success rate was 83.8% (healed cases). The only individual predictors to prove significant for the outcome were pain at initial examination (p=0.030) and other clinical signs or symptoms at initial examination (p=0.042), meaning that such teeth had lower healing rates 1 year after periapical surgery compared with teeth without such signs or symptoms. Logistic regression revealed that pain at initial examination (odds ratio=2.59, confidence interval=1.2-5.6, p=0.04) was the only predictor reaching significance. Several predictors almost reached statistical significance: lesion size (p=0.06), retrofilling material (p=0.06), and postoperative healing course (p=0.06).

Assessment of morphological changes and permeability of apical dentin surfaces induced by Nd:Yag laser irradiation through retrograde cavity surfaces.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to observe the morphological changes and apical dye penetration at apical dentin surfaces induced by Nd:YAG laser irradiation at different power settings with and without a laser initiator. Seventy five single rooted human maxillary anterior teeth were used. Following the establishment of the working lengths, the root canals were enlarged with step-back technique. The apex of each root was resected 3 mm perpendicular to its long axis. Standard Class I cavities of 2 mm depth and 2 mm width were prepared. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups with fifteen teeth in each. In Group 1, the retrograde cavity preparations were lased with Nd:YAG laser at 2 W and those in Group 2 preparations were lased with Nd:YAG laser at 3.2 W. In Group 3, the retrograde cavity surfaces were lased with Nd:YAG laser at 2 W following the application of India ink. Group 4 was lased with the same settings of Group 2 after an absorbent cotton point soaked with India ink was inserted into the cut dentinal surfaces and the inner walls of the apical preparations. Group 5 served as control. Five teeth from each group were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amounts of smear layer, debris, and recrystalized dentin present were assessed and scored. Retrograde cavities of ten teeth from each group were filled with amalgam to examine apical dye penetration. The teeth were immersed in 2% basic fuscin and kept for 48 hours. Dye penetration was evaluated by stereomicroscope at a magnification of X10. The results showed the usage of India ink with Nd:YAG laser enhanced the amount of melting and recrystalization of dentin and the radiation and initiator increased the leakage.

Marginal leakage of Gallium Alloy root-end fillings: an in-vitro assessment.

The sealing ability of amalgam and Gallium Alloy Gallium Filling (GF) root-end fillings was evaluated in vitro using a highly uniform collection of sheep incisor roots. Following ultrasonic canal debridement and orthograde obturation with gutta-percha and sealer, root-end cavities were prepared in 100 roots and filled with amalgam (50 teeth) or Gallium Alloy GF (50 teeth), Twenty-five teeth from each group were subjected to immediate dye leakage assessment under vacuum conditions with methylene blue dye (2%), pH 7. Linear dye penetration was measured following longitudinal splitting. The other 25 teeth from each group were incubated in Ringer's solution for 12 weeks before leakage assessment by the same method. Control teeth were included in each component of the study. Mean linear dye penetration was: amalgam--5.17 mm at baseline, 2.33 mm after 12 week's incubation; Gallium Alloy GF--2.21 mm at baseline, 1.41 mm after 12 week's incubation. The apical marginal seal of both materials improved significantly following storage in Ringer's solution (P<0.001). Gallium Alloy GF provided a better apical seal than amalgam, both at baseline and following storage (P<0.001). Subjective evaluation of the general handling characteristics of Gallium Alloy GF revealed that it was a more difficult material to manipulate than amalgam, largely because of its wetting ability and consequent adhesion to dental instruments.