Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties, Cell Viability, and Metalloproteinase Activity of Bioceramic Endodontic Materials Used in Vital Pulp Therapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties, cell viability, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition capacity of several endodontic materials aimed at vital pulp therapy: Pro Root MTA®, EndoSequence®, Biodentine®, MTA Angelus®, TheraCal LC®, and BioC Repair®. The materials were prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. Antimicrobial tests were conducted using a microcosm biofilm model, cell viability was assessed using murine fibroblasts (L929), and MMP activity was analyzed through electrophoresis. The results showed that BioC Repair®, Biodentine®, and EndoSequence® exhibited similar antimicrobial properties, while MTA Angelus® and ProRoot MTA® had inferior results but were comparable to each other. In terms of cell viability, no significant differences were observed among the materials. EndoSequence® demonstrated the highest MMP inhibition capacity. In conclusion, BioC Repair®, Biodentine®, EndoSequence®, and TheraCal® showed better antimicrobial properties among the tested materials. The materials did not exhibit significant differences in terms of cytotoxicity. However, EndoSequence® displayed superior MMP inhibition capacity.

Root canal treatment of a fused mandibular incisor using cone-beam computed tomography as a diagnostic aid.

Tooth fusion consists of the union of crowns by the enamel and/or dentin. We describe a case of a patient who presented with a fistula in the apical portion of teeth 32 and 33. Clinically, tooth 32 showed increased crown width in relation to other teeth in the same arch. Radiographic examination evidenced fusion of tooth 32 with a possible supernumerary tooth. Cone-beam computed tomography was used to confirm the radiographic findings and revealed incomplete apex formation of the supernumerary tooth. The fused tooth was subjected to root canal treatment. Calcium hydroxide was used as intracanal medication, changed for every 30 days, for 4 months. Subsequently, the mesial canal received an apical plug of mineral trioxide aggregate mixed with distilled water. At 2 years of follow-up, the tooth showed signs of tissue repair.

Root Canal Transportation and Centering Ability of Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments in Mandibular Premolars Assessed Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), transportation and centralization of different nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments. METHODS: One hundred and twenty eight mandibular premolars were selected and instrumented using the following brands of NiTi files: WaveOne, WaveOne Gold, Reciproc, ProTaper Next, ProTaper Gold, Mtwo, BioRaCe and RaCe. CBCT imaging was performed before and after root canal preparation to obtain measurements of mesial and distal dentin walls and calculations of root canal transportation and centralization. A normal distribution of data was confirmed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene tests, and results were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: ProTaper Gold produced the lowest canal transportation values, and RaCe, the highest. ProTaper Gold files also showed the highest values for centering ability, whereas BioRaCe showed the lowest. No significant differences were found across the different instruments in terms of canal transportation and centering ability (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the methodology employed, all instruments used for root canal preparation of mandibular premolars performed similarly with regard to canal transportation and centering ability.