An investigation of current endodontic practice in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to gather information about the quality and quantity of root canal treatments carried out by general dental practitioners in Turkey. METHODS: Questionnaires were given to 1400 dentists who attended the 16th National Congress organized by the Turkish Dental Association. The participants were asked to answer 34 multiple-choice questions. The questions were subdivided into 3 main topics; general information; general approach to endodontic treatment; and cleaning, shaping, and obturation of root canals. The statistical analysis was carried out by an χ²-test to compare the means at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: The response rate for this study was 43%. There was a wide variation in the number of root canal treatments completed per month. Nearly 92% of practitioners stated that they never used rubber dam. The most commonly used working length determination technique was radiographic evaluation (P < 0.05). Sodium hypochlorite was the irrigant of choice with varying concentrations and AH Plus was the sealer of choice (P < 0.05). Resin composite was the most frequently used material for final restorations. CONCLUSIONS: Endodontic procedures in general practice in Turkey have differences from widely acknowledged quality guidelines. Despite the introduction of new instruments and techniques, most of the general practitioners chose conventional methods.

Incidence of patent furcal accessory canals in permanent molars of a Turkish population.

AIM: To determine the incidence of patent furcal accessory canals in permanent molars of a Turkish population. METHODOLOGY: Two-hundred extracted teeth consisting of 50 maxillary first molars, 50 maxillary second molars, 50 mandibular first molars and 50 mandibular second molars from Turkish patients attending the Oral Surgery Department of the Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey, were included in the study. After preparation of access cavities and removal of pulp tissue, the teeth were stored in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for 1 h. Following double-sealing of the access cavities, all tooth surfaces except the furcation regions were covered with nail varnish. The teeth were stored in 0.5% basic fuchsin for 1 week. The teeth were sectioned at the cemento-enamel junction and the presence of patent furcal canals was established by examining the pulp chamber floor with a stereomicroscope (10x) to determine staining. RESULTS: Patent furcal accessory canals were detected in 24% of maxillary first molars, 16% of maxillary second molars, 24% of mandibular first molars, and 20% of mandibular second molars. No statistically significant differences were found between the tooth types. CONCLUSIONS: In a Turkish population, the incidence of patent furcal accessory canals on the pulp chamber floor of maxillary and mandibular first and second molars ranged between 16 and 24%.

Tetracycline HCl solution as a root canal irrigant.

The effect of tetracycline hydrochloride as an endodontic irrigant on smear layer removal was examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with bidistilled water, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and 50% citric acid in 20 extracted teeth. Five teeth, as a control, were irrigated with bidistilled water only in group 1. All the other groups were irrigated with NaOCI during instrumentation. The final rinses were NaOCl in group 2, citric acid in group 3, and 1% tetracycline hydrochloride in group 4. Scanning electron microscopic results and statistical analysis revealed that bidistilled water and NaOCl were ineffective in removing the smear layer, whereas citric acid and tetracycline hydrochloride were significantly more effective (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was detected between tetracycline hydrochloride and citric acid (p > 0.05). However tetracycline hydrochloride demineralized less peritubular dentin.