Evaluation of apical transportation and apical root sealing in root canals prepared with mtwo rotary system with and without apical enlargement ­ an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to evaluate apical transportation and apical root canal sealing after root canal filling in human teeth prepared with MTwo® Rotary System with and without apical foramen enlargement. Twenty mandibular premolars were divided into two groups (n=10). Group 1 had root canals prepared 1mm beyond the apical foramen. Group 2 had root canals prepared 1mm below the root canal length. After chemo-mechanical preparation, samples were submitted to scanning electronic microscopy. Apical foramen images had 75x magnification at standardized positions, allowing measurements from the apical foramen area before and after root canal preparation, and after root canal filling. Apical foramen shape and apical transportation, as well as its level of circumferential filling after root canal preparation were accessed using the Image Subtraction System. Scanning electronic microscopy analysis demonstrated that samples of Group 1 showed larger foraminal diameter than samples of Group 2 (p<0.05). Apical foramen transportation was statistically different between Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.0108). Furthermore, the apical foramen sealing also differed statistically between groups 1 and 2 (p=0.0007) and 100% of samples of Group 1 showed apical root canal sealing. Apical root canal sealing was more effective when the root canal was prepared with apical foramen enlargement, even when the apical transportation was detected.

Association of calcium hypochlorite, reciprocating instrumentation and photodynamic therapy: Antimicrobial analysis and effects on root dentin structure.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial action of calcium hypochlorite(Ca[OCl]2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with reciprocating instrumentation and photodynamic therapy(PDT), and its influence on root dentin structure. METHODS: One hundred and ten human teeth were used to antimicrobial evaluation, inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and divided into 11 groups (n = 10): G1 - distilled water(control); G2-1 % NaOCl; G3-5.25 % NaOCl; G4-1 % Ca(OCl)2; G5-5.25 % Ca(OCl)2; G6-PDT; G7-distilled water + PDT; G8-1 % NaOCl + PDT; G9-5.25 % NaOCl + PDT; G10-1 % Ca(OCl)2+PDT; G11-5.25 % Ca(OCl)2+PDT. In all groups, except G6, the root canals were instrumented with #R50 Reciproc file in the working length in association with tested chemical auxiliary substance. The counting of colony forming units (CFUs) was performed to calculate the bacterial percentage reduction of each group. Following, 55 bovine teeth were used to microhardness evaluation and divided into the same 11 groups (n = 5), with no instrumentation and immersion in the tested protocols. The modification of root dentin microhardness was evaluated by using the Vicker tester. Finally, 33 bovine teeth were used to organic components evaluation and divided into the same 11 groups (n = 3), with no instrumentation and immersion in the tested protocols. The modification of organic components of root dentin was evaluated by light microscopy. Specific statistical analysis was performed for each evaluation. RESULTS: The higher bacterial reduction was observed in groups 3,4,5,8,9,10 and 11, with no statistical difference between them (p > 0.05). The higher microhardness reduction was observed in groups 8,9,10 e 11, with no statistical difference between them (p > 0.05). The highest modification on organic components was observed in groups 3,5,9 and 11, with no statistical difference between them (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The association of Ca(OCl)2, reciprocating instrumentation and PDT promotes effective antimicrobial action. Moreover, lower modification was induced in microhardness and organic components of root dentin, by using Ca(OCl)2 in low concentration associated to PDT.