A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of WaveOne and NeoEndo Retreatment File System for the Removal of Gutta Percha from the Root Canal.

BACKGROUND: Teeth with apical periodontitis that either persisted or developed after initial root canal treatment is most often indicated for retreatment procedure. The present study was conducted to compare the WaveOne and NeoEndo retreatment file system for the removal of gutta-percha from the root canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty extracted mandibular first premolars with single straight roots were divided into two groups, Group I-WaveOne and Group II-NeoEndo. All samples were scanned with cone-beam computed tomography after the root filling and retreatment procedures. The decrease in the volume of filling material after each retreatment protocol was measured. RESULTS: The mean volume of gutta-percha in Group I before retreatment was 5.6 and in Group II was 5.3, after retreatment in Group I was 2.7, and in Group II was 4.2. The mean percentage reduction in Group I was 45.2% and in Group II was 23.8%. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both systems failed to completely remove gutta-percha. WaveOne was significantly more effective than the NeoEndo retreatment system.

Plasma Osteocalcin Levels, Status of Oral Disease and Alteration in Mandibular Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women.

AIM: The present study was undertaken for assessing plasma osteocalcin levels, status of oral disease, and alteration in mandibular bone density in postmenopausal women (PMW). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 80 premenopausal women and 80 PMW were enrolled. For analyzing the oral dryness, clinical score of oral dryness (CSOD) on a scale of up to 10 was used. Complete dental profiling of all the patients was done. Digital panoramic radiographs were taken for all the patients. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by measuring the following parameters: mandibular cortical index (MCI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical width (MCW), and fractal dimension (FD). Osteocalcin levels were evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. All the results were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Mean osteocalcin levels of PMW (453.12 ng/mL) were significantly higher in comparison to the premenopausal women (249.28 ng/mL). Postmenopausal women had significantly higher CSOD and number of peri-apical radiolucencies in comparison to premenopausal women. Bone mineral density as assessed by MCI was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with oral disease status and osteocalcin levels. Significant difference was obtained while comparing the MCI inbetween the two study groups. CONCLUSION: There is significantly higher prevalence of oral lesions along with oral dryness in postmenopausal women. Also, thinning of mandibular cortex is significantly higher in postmenopausal women. Higher plasma osteocalcin levels help in predicting osteopenia/osteoporosis at an early stage in such patients. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In PMW, special considerations should be made while planning for dental implant therapy.