Treatment of severely decayed anterior primary teeth with short-post technique (Mushroom Restorations) under general anesthesia.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluation the treatment success of the short post technique (mushroom restoration) using a composite resin in severely decayed primary anterior teeth after 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment. METHODS: Eighteen children aged 3-5 years with severely decayed primary maxillary anterior teeth (60 anterior maxillary primary teeth in total) were included. Patients were treated under general anesthesia (GA). After pulpectomy, a "mushroom shape" was formed in the root canals for the purpose of retention, and the root canals were filled with zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE), and the teeth were restored with composite resin. The status of treatment was evaluated clinically and radiographically for periapical radiolucency, pathological root resorption, marginal fracture, and loss of restoration for each treated tooth. All findings were recorded. RESULTS: As a result of the evaluation criteria, the success rates at 6, 12 and 18 months were 86%, 80%, and 71%, respectively. None of the teeth showed apical radiolucency or pathological root resorption at the end of the 18th month period. CONCLUSION: The short-post (mushroom restorations) technique is a clinically acceptable alternative method for restoration of severely decayed primary teeth. This study supports the feasibility of treatment with this technique for pediatric patients treated under GA.

Evaluation of 3Mix-MP and pulpectomies in non-vital primary molars.

Pulpectomies in primary molars are often hindered by several factors, including anatomical and physiological characteristics of posterior primary teeth and young patients' lack of cooperation with laborious treatments. This study was undertaken in search of easier but equally effective therapies that could eliminate infection, preserve the teeth and avoid extractions. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare clinical and radiographic success between pulp treatment with 3Mix-MP and pulpectomy with Maisto-Capurro paste in primary necrotic molars. A longitudinal prospective study was conducted at the Department of Comprehensive Pediatric Dentistry of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires (20152017). The study included 46 primary molars with necrotic pulp of children without immune or metabolic compromise. Children and their legal guardians provided assent and informed consent. Selected molars were randomly divided into 2 groups: G1: Pulpectomy treatment with Maisto-Capurro paste; and G2: Treatment with 3Mix-MP paste. Treatments were evaluated at 1, 3, 6,12 and 18 months (intra and inter-rater agreement 0.92 and 0.84). Clinical success was considered to be the absence of any of the following: pain, sensitivity to percussion or palpation, swelling, fistula and non-physiological mobility, while radiographic success was considered to be: absence of internal or external non-physiological resorption, no progression or reduction of radiolucent periapical/interradicular lesion and evidence of bone regeneration. Percentages, 95% C.I., and CHI2 were calculated for the comparison between groups. Overall clinical success was 91.5% and 87.5% (p=0.48) and overall radiographic success was 88.3% and 82.3% (p=0.31) for G1 and G2 respectively. No significant clinical or radiographic difference was found between groups. Both treatments showed similar clinical and radiographic behavior during the study periods.

Las pulpectomías en molares primarios se ven dificultadas frecuentemente por las características anatómicas y fisiológicas de éstos y por la escasa colaboración que brindan los pacientes de corta edad ante tratamientos tan laboriosos. En búsqueda de terapéuticas más sencillas, pero igualmente eficaces, que consigan eliminar la infección para conservar las piezas y evitar las exodoncias, se ha planteado como objetivo de este estudio: estimar y comparar la proporción de éxito clínico y radiográfico entre el tratamiento pulpar con 3Mix-MP y la pulpectomía con pasta de Maisto-Capurro en molares primarios con necrosis. Se realizó un estudio longitudinal y prospectivo en la Cátedra de Odontología Integral Niños de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (2015 - 2017). Formaron parte del estudio 46 molares primarios con diagnóstico de necrosis pulpar, de niños sin compromiso inmunológico ni metabólico y que junto con sus responsables legales brindaron el asentimiento y el consentimiento informado. Los molares seleccionados fueron divididos aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: G1: Tratamiento de pulpectomía con pasta de Maisto-Capurro y G2: Tratamiento con pasta 3Mix-MP. Los tratamientos fueron evaluados al mes, 3, 6, 12y 18 meses (concordancia intra-examinador 0,92 e interexaminador 0,84), considerando como éxito clínico la ausencia de dolor, sensibilidad a la percusión y palpación, edema, fístula y movilidad no fisiológica; y como éxito radiográfico, ausencia de reabsorción interna o externa no fisiológica, no progresión o reducción de la lesión radiolúcida interradicular/periapical y evidencia de regeneración ósea. Se calcularon porcentajes, I.C 95% y CHI2para la comparación. El éxito clínico global fue de 91,5%y 87,5% (p=0.48) y el éxito radiográfico global de 88,3% y 82,3% (p=0.31)para G1 y G2 respectivamente, sin diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos. En los periodos estudiados ambos tratamientos mostraron comportamientos clínico y radiográfico semejantes.

Effectiveness of precooling the injection site using tetrafluorethane on pain perception in children.

BACKGROUND: Injection of local anesthesia is one of the most important reasons for avoidance behavior in children. Applying a topical anesthetic before injection is the most popular way to control pain; however, topical anesthetics have some shortcomings such as longer duration of action, displeasing taste, and spread of the anesthetic agent to noninjection site areas. Cryoanesthesia using refrigerant as a topical anesthesia is being studied as an alternative to overcome the shortcomings of topical anesthetics and has shown promising results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this split-mouth design study, 50 children of aged 8-10 years who required bilateral mandibular local anesthesia administration were selected. In the first visit, application of topical anesthetic spray (lidocaine) on one side and during the second appointment cryoanesthetic tetrafluorethane on the other side was used before local anesthetic administration. Patients were asked to report their discomfort and pain using visual analog scale (VAS) (subjective method). Patients' pain perception during injection is assessed by sound, eye, and motor (SEM) scale by the dentist (objective method). RESULTS: The results were statistically analyzed using paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney tests. In VAS scale (subjective method), pain scores were significantly lower in tetrafluorethane group when compared with lidocaine group. In SEM scale (objective method), pain scores were lower in tetrafluorethane group when compared with lidocaine group, but it was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Precooling the injection site using refrigerant tetrafluorethane spray has shown to be effective in eliminating pain before local anesthesia administration in children when compared with topical anesthetic lidocaine spray.

Effect of sodium hypochlorite with the addition of a proteolytic enzyme on postoperative discomfort: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the patient's postoperative discomfort when root canal irrigation was performed either with standard sodium hypochlorite or with sodium hypochlorite with the adjunct of a proteolytic enzyme. METHODS: Two hundred patients were endodontically treated in two clinics. The type of irrigant to be used during root canal instrumentation was randomly assigned. Final irrigation was done using EDTA 17%. The canals were filled by warm vertical condensation with guttha-percha and the coronal seal was made using IRM. Patients were given a questionnaire to assess pain and swelling and the number of analgesics and other drugs taken during the first week after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 166 questionnaires could have been evaluated. No significant difference was found between groups for pain, swelling and analgesics taken. Moderate pain and swelling was reported only in the first two days after treatment. No antibiotics use was reported. No guttha-percha excess beyond root apex was found by radiographic assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The irrigating solution containing a proteolytic enzyme does not produce greater postoperative discomfort as compared to the conventional sodium hypochlorite in patients undergoing endodontic therapy.

Safety of dental treatment in patients with previously diagnosed acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of invasive dental treatments, such as tooth extraction and pulpectomy under local anesthesia, in patients with unstable angina pectoris and within 6 months after onset in patients who had experienced acute myocardial infarction. STUDY DESIGN: Cardiovascular complications during and after dental treatment and preoperative risk factors were explored in 63 patients who had experienced unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 79 dental treatments were performed with no intraoperative complications. Chest pain occurred in 8 patients within 1 week after dental treatment. Risk factors for postoperative complications were identified as a history of chest pain within 2 weeks before the dental treatment and failure to clear the Master Test Single stress test. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients who had experienced unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction tolerated dental treatment when appropriate stress control measures were used. However, approximately 10% of the patients experienced postoperative problems. Acceptability of dental treatment should be determined on the basis of the comprehensive assessment of each patient.