Minimal Apical Enlargement for Penetration of Irrigants to the Apical Third of Root Canal System: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine minimal apical enlargement for irrigant penetration into apical third of root canal system using scanning electron microscope (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distobuccal canals of 40 freshly extracted human maxillary first molar teeth were instrumented using crown-down technique. The teeth were divided into four test groups according to size of their master apical file (MAF) (#20, #25, #30, #35 0.06% taper), and two control groups. After final irrigation, removal of debris and smear layer from the apical third of root canals was determined under a SEM. Data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: Smear layer removal in apical third for MAF size #30 was comparable with that of the control group (size #40). CONCLUSION: Minimal apical enlargement for penetration of irrigants to the apical third of root canal system is #30 size.

Evaluation of the Erosive Potential of Various Pediatric Liquid Medicaments: An in-vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: The present in-vitro study was a scanning electron microscope (SEM) study conducted in primary teeth in order to evaluate the erosive potential of ten commonly used pediatric liquid medications (PLMs). MATERIALS & METHODS: 10 commonly used PLMs and 33 exfoliated or extracted primary teeth were collected. The 33 teeth were divided into two groups, the control group (n=3) and the study group (n=30). The endogenous pH of all the teeth was measured using a pH electrode meter. The control group teeth were immersed in artificial saliva for three different time intervals- 1 minute, 10 minutes and 8 hours. The study group teeth were also maintained for 1 minute, 10 minutes and 8 hours in various selected PLMs. The primary enamel surface (PES) changes were then observed under the SEM for all the teeth of both groups. RESULTS: All the PLMs used in the study showed an erosive effect on the PES when viewed under SEM. Majority of the medications caused etched prism pattern followed by crater formation and sporadic rod ends in that order on PES. CONCLUSION: There is a need to educate parents and professionals about the association between dental erosion and PLMs which predisposes to dental caries. How to cite the article: Tupalli AR, Satish B, Shetty BR, Battu S, Kumar JP, Nagaraju B. Evaluation of the Erosive Potential of Various Pediatric Liquid Medicaments: An In-vitro Study. J Int Oral Health 2014;6(1):59-65.