Patient's Knowledge and Perception of Endodontics Treatment: An Observational Study.

Objective: To assess public awareness regarding endodontic treatment and assess patients' knowledge regarding endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and given to 300 patients who had visited the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics between November 2021 and October 2022, after obtaining ethical clearance and consent from all the participants. The questionnaire included sociodemographic details and about their knowledge about endodontic treatment. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed using methods of descriptive statistics like frequency and percentages. Results: We found that most of the respondents had an average level of knowledge regarding endodontic treatment. Conclusion: We observed an improvement in knowledge and perception regarding endodontic treatment.

Evaluation of Root Dentin Damage during Retreatment Procedure using Various Engine-Driven Retreatment File Systems-A Micro-CT Study.

Aim: The aim of this research was to assess the damage to root dentin that arises from retreatment with different engine-driven NiTi retreatment files employing micro-computed tomography. Materials and Methods: Sixty mandibular premolar teeth having a single root and root canal that were recently extracted were gathered and stored. The specimens were de-coronated at the cementoenamel junction under water irrigation to achieve a homogeneous root length of 16 millimeters. Gutta-percha cones were coated with sealants and placed within the radicular canal till the WL. All sixty premolars were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups, with every group comprising 20 sample teeth each. Group 1: MTwo Retreatment files, Group 2: ProTaper Universal Retreatment files, Group 3: Edge File XR Retreatment rotary files. The quantity of root dentinal injury was estimated by deducting the dentin volume (mm3) in the pre- and post-therapy micro-CT scans at apical, middle, and cervical 3rd points. Results: An intra-group comparative scrutiny showed that lower radicular dentinal injury was noted at apical 3rd (0.31 ± 0.16, 0.62 ± 0.02) in Edge File XR Retreatment file system and MTwo Retreatment file system in that order. The statistically significant disparity was seen amid the MTwo Retreatment file, Edge File XR Retreatment file system and ProTaper Universal Retreatment file, Edge File XR Retreatment file system with P value of 0.001on intergroup assessment. Conclusion: In spite of the limitations that this research had, it was inferred that each assessed file system proficiently eradicated the obturated material through the retreatment procedure performed. In addition, it was seen that the Edge File XR group showed lesser root dentin damage in contrast to MTwo and ProTaper Universal file systems.

Assessing the Contact Angle Between Dentin Treated With Irrigation and Calcium Hydroxide and Root Canal Sealers.

Background The long-term use of calcium hydroxide, or Ca(OH)2, on dentin has been established in the literature. However, scarce data is available on dentin wettability with Ca(OH)2. Aim The present study was conducted to assess the outcomes of Ca(OH)2 use on the wettability of dentin following two and four weeks of using sealers of bioceramic (BC) and Tubli-Seal™ in the root canal. Methods In this study, 168 specimens were divided into 12 groups of 14 specimens each and were numbered from G1 to G12. G1-G6 groups were tested with Tubli-Seal. Sterile water irrigation was reserved for G1 for two weeks (14 days) followed by two minutes treatment with 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) chemical irrigation and 17% EDTA (10 ml). G2 and G3 were subjected to Ca(OH)2 (0.1 ml of UltraCal) for two weeks followed by 10ml sterile water irrigation for two minutes with chemical irrigation. G4 to G6 were given similar treatment for four weeks. G7-G12 were assessed for BC sealer similarly to G1-G6. Two and four weeks of incubation with sterile water or Ca(OH)2 was done in 100% humidity at 37°C. SEM and EDX were done to evaluate the surface morphology of G1 and G6, and results were formed.  Results Significantly smaller contact angles were seen for Tubli-Seal (G1 to G6) compared to BC (G7 to G12) with p<0.05. Application of water irrigants and Ca(OH)2 (in G2, G5, and G11) showed a smaller (p<0.05, statistically significant) contact angle compared to the use of chemical irrigation agents and Ca(OH)2 (in G3, G6, and G12) except for G8 and G9. Based on EDX and SEM, compared to the use of chemical irrigation with Ca(OH)2, higher remnants of Ca(OH)2 were seen in the water irrigation, whereas, no remnant was seen with chemical irrigants.  Conclusion Better dentin wettability is seen with Tubli-seal compared to BC sealer. A smaller contact angle between root canal sealers and dentin is seen in the remaining calcium hydroxide samples. Also, calcium hydroxide can be removed from the polished dentin surface with two minutes of irrigation with 17% EDTA and 6% NaOCl.

Retraction: Assessing the Contact Angle Between Dentin Treated With Irrigation and Calcium Hydroxide and Root Canal Sealers.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.29474.].

A Scanning Electron Microscope Evaluation of Smear Layer Removal and Antimicrobial Action of Mixture of Tetracycline, Acid and Detergent, Sodium Hypochlorite, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid, and Chlorhexidine Gluconate: An In vitro Study.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective is to evaluate the efficiency in removal of smear layer of mixture of tetracycline, acid and detergent (MTAD), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and chlorhexidine gluconate by scanning electron microscope (SEM) evaluation and also to evaluate the antimicrobial action of the same irrigants against standard culture strains of Enterococcus faecalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 60 extracted permanent teeth with single root canal. The sample was categorized into five groups with 12 teeth in each group. Root canals were enlarged till size 40 with K-files. One group was kept as control and irrigated only with saline. Other four groups used 5% NaOCl as irrigant during instrumentation and MTAD, 5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA, and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate as final rinse. Teeth were split and examined under SEM. To test the antibacterial action, the zone of inhibition method using agar plates was used. Obtained data were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: MTAD and 17% EDTA removed smear layer from all regions of the root canals. About 5% NaOCl and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate were ineffective in removing the smear layer. The mean zone of inhibition formed by the irrigants was in the following order; MTAD (40.5 mm), 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (29.375 mm), 17% EDTA (24.125 mm), 5% NaOCl (22.125 mm), and saline (zero). CONCLUSION: MTAD showed high smear layer removal efficacy, but no significant difference was found to that of 17% EDTA. As the dimensions of the zones of inhibition showed, MTAD has got highest antibacterial action against E. faecalis, followed by 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, 17% EDTA, and 5% NaOCl. However, the exact correlation of in vitro study results to clinical conditions is impossible due to the variables involved.