Fibra óptica como un material alternativo en la obturación endodóncica: un estudio piloto / Optical fiber as an alternative material in endodontics: a pilot study

La gutapercha es químicamente un polímero a base de isopreno, impermeable, no poroso y radiopaco entre otras características, empleado desde el siglo XIX; sin embargo manifiesta algunos inconvenientes propios del material, lo cual ha dado lugar al nacimiento de otros materiales para mejorar sus propiedades. Recientemente se ha desarrollado y caracterizado un material novedoso a base de fibra óptica recubierta por nano partículas de plata (FONP), propuesto como un material alternativo para la obturación de conductos radiculares. En el presente estudio se seleccionaron 24 dientes para conformar cuatro grupos experimentales comparativos entre la obturación con fibra óptica y con gutapercha, ambos con el sellador AH Plus. Las raíces fueron obturadas en grupos de diez y almacenadas en solución salina a 37 oC. La filtración apical se midió desde el extremo apical de la interfaz del material hasta la extensión más coronal del tinte observado microscópicamente. Se empleó la herramienta de LAS EZ V3.0 (Leica Microsystems, Switzerland), los datos se tabularon y se analizaron. Resultados: Las mediciones de microfiltración a nivel apical e intraconductos manifestaron diferencias en favor de la gutapercha, donde los grupos experimentales manifestaron una filtración promedio correspondiente a 0.872 mm en el grupo de Gutapercha/AH-PLUS y de 2.390 mm con técnica lateral utilizando FONP/AH-PLUS, aun así se evidenció que las propiedades de sellado de la fibra óptica con nanopartículas fueron suficientes para considerarlo como un material de obturación de conductos radiculares dentales como posible sustituto de la gutapercha (AU)

Gutta-percha is chemically an Isoprene-based polymer, impervious, non-porous and radiopaque, among other characteristics, used since the 19th century, it manifests some disadvantages inherent to the material, which has led to the birth of new materials with improved properties. Recently, a novel material based on optical fiber covered by silver nanoparticles (FONP) has been developed, characterized and proposed as an alternative material for root canal obturation. In the present study, 24 teeth were selected and divided into four comparative experimental groups for obturation with fiber optics and gutta-percha, both with the AH Plus sealer. The roots were sealed in groups of ten and stored in saline at 37 oC. Apical filtration test was performed from the apical end of the material interface to the most coronal extension of the dye observed microscopically. The LAS EZ V3.0 tool was used to make the measurements and the data was tabulated and analyzed. Results: Measurements of microfiltration at the apical and intracanal level showed differences in favor of gutta-percha, where the experimental groups showed an average filtration of 0.872 mm in the Gutapercha/AH-PLUS group and 2.390 mm using FONP/AH-PLUS, even so, it was evidenced that the sealing properties of the optical fiber with nanoparticles are sufficient to consider this material as a proper filling material for dental root canals as a substitute for gutta-percha (AU)

Frecuencia de Candida en conductos radiculares de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente / Frequency of Candida in root canals of teeth with primary and persistent endodontic infections

Antecedentes: La identificación microbiológica en infecciones endodónticas se ha enfocado principalmente a la caracterización bacteriana sin dar relevancia a las levaduras que, por sus factores de virulencia, pueden afectar el resultado del tratamiento clínico realizado. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia de Candida en condiciones anaerobias en conductos radiculares con infecciones endodónticas primarias y persistentes, y evaluar un método de muestreo microbiológico por lavado y aspiración en comparación con el método tradicional por absorción con puntas de papel. Métodos: Se tomaron 50 muestras microbiológicas de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente provenientes de 47 pacientes que requirieron tratamiento endodóntico. Se emplearon dos métodos de toma de muestra microbiológica: un método por aspiración y un método por absorción con puntas de papel, ambos con dos tipos de caldo de cultivo (M1-M4). Las muestras fueron cultivadas en condiciones de anaerobiosis hasta lograr una turbidez de 0,5 en la escala de McFarland, y se resembraron en placas de agar dextrosa Sabouraud y agar sangre enriquecido para anaerobios. Se realizó una observación macroscópica y microscópica de las colonias formadas. Las pruebas de producción de tubo germinal, crecimiento en CHROMagar e identificación bioquímica se realizaron a los aislamientos levaduriformes obtenidos. Resultados: De los 50 dientes evaluados, 18 de ellos (36%) mostraron infección por levaduras. En los casos de infección primaria se encontraron levaduras en 15 de 36 dientes (41,6%) y en casos de infección persistente en 3 de 14 (21,4%). El método por lavado y aspiración con caldo de dextrosa Sabouraud recuperó mayor diversidad de especies. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de levaduras fue más alta en los dientes con infección primaria en comparación con los dientes con infección persistente. La especie de levadura predominante fue Candida albicans. El método de toma de muestra por lavado y aspiración fue más eficiente en la recuperación de aislamientos de Candida que el método tradicional por absorción con puntas de papel

Background: Microbiological identification in endodontic infections has focused mainly on bacteria without giving much attention to yeasts, which, due to their virulence factors, can affect the outcomes of root canal treatment. Aims: To determine the frequency of Candida in anaerobic conditions in root canals with primary and persistent endodontic infection, as well as to evaluate a microbiological sampling method using aspiration compared to the traditional absorption method with paper points. Methods: Fifty microbiological samples were obtained from teeth of 47 patients requiring endodontic treatments, due to either primary or persistent infections. Two microbiological sampling methods were used: an aspiration method, and the traditional paper point absorption method. In each of these methods, two types of medium were used (M1-M4). Samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions until reaching 0.5 McFarland turbidity, and then inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose, as well as on anaerobic enriched blood agar plates. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the colonies were performed. The germ-tube test, growth on CHROMagar, and biochemical identification were performed on the isolated yeasts. Results: Fungal infection was found in 18 (36%) samples out of the 50 teeth evaluated. In the 18 samples positive for fungal infection, 15 out of 36 (41.6%) teeth were taken from a primary infection, and 3 out of 14 (21.4%) from a persistent infection. The aspiration method using Sabouraud dextrose medium recovered a greater diversity of species. Conclusions: Yeasts frequency was higher in teeth with primary infections compared to teeth with persistent infections. The predominant yeast species was Candida albicans. The aspirating sampling method was more efficient in the recovery of Candida isolates than the traditional absorption method

[Frequency of Candida in root canals of teeth with primary and persistent endodontic infections]. / Frecuencia de Candida en conductos radiculares de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente.

BACKGROUND: Microbiological identification in endodontic infections has focused mainly on bacteria without giving much attention to yeasts, which, due to their virulence factors, can affect the outcomes of root canal treatment. AIMS: To determine the frequency of Candida in anaerobic conditions in root canals with primary and persistent endodontic infection, as well as to evaluate a microbiological sampling method using aspiration compared to the traditional absorption method with paper points. METHODS: Fifty microbiological samples were obtained from teeth of 47 patients requiring endodontic treatments, due to either primary or persistent infections. Two microbiological sampling methods were used: an aspiration method, and the traditional paper point absorption method. In each of these methods, two types of medium were used (M1-M4). Samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions until reaching 0.5 McFarland turbidity, and then inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose, as well as on anaerobic enriched blood agar plates. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the colonies were performed. The germ-tube test, growth on CHROMagar, and biochemical identification were performed on the isolated yeasts. RESULTS: Fungal infection was found in 18 (36%) samples out of the 50 teeth evaluated. In the 18 samples positive for fungal infection, 15 out of 36 (41.6%) teeth were taken from a primary infection, and 3 out of 14 (21.4%) from a persistent infection. The aspiration method using Sabouraud dextrose medium recovered a greater diversity of species. CONCLUSIONS: Yeasts frequency was higher in teeth with primary infections compared to teeth with persistent infections. The predominant yeast species was Candida albicans. The aspirating sampling method was more efficient in the recovery of Candida isolates than the traditional absorption method.