Comparison of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of the EndoVac System and Conventional Needle Irrigation in Primary Molar Root Canals.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of the EndoVac system and conventional needle irrigation to eliminate E faecalis in primary molar root canals. STUDY DESIGN: 60 extracted human primary second molar roots were instrumented up to an apical size .04/35 and randomly divided into two groups; Group 1: conventional needle (n=30) and Group 2: EndoVac (n=30), and four subgroups (two experimental subgroups; (a) 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) + ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (n=20), (b) ozonated water (OW) + EDTA (n=20), and control groups (c) 5.25% NaOCl (n=10) and (d) saline (n=10). All roots were sterilized and then inoculated with E.faecalis. Before and after final irrigation procedures, root canals were sampled and the grown colony forming units (CFUs) were counted. Data were analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests using a 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The EndoVac reduced more bacteria than the conventional needle did but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). NaOCl alone or followed by EDTA totally eliminated bacteria. OW + EDTA showed higher reduction of bacteria but could not totally eliminate bacterias. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of bacterial elimination, the EndoVac was not significantly better than the conventional needle. Although, there were fewer CFU/mg when using EndoVac, there was not any statistically significant superiority to conventional needle irrigation. An OW+EDTA regimen showed antibacterial effect in the primary molar root canals but it was significantly less effective than NaOCl+EDTA.

Clinical evaluation of apex locator and radiography in primary teeth.

AIM: The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of electronic apex locater and radiographic determination of root canal length in primary teeth. METHODOLOGY: A total of 32 human primary molar teeth (96 roots) were selected. After endodontic access preparation, root canals were irrigated with physiological saline solution. The access cavities were dried with cotton pellets and, the roots were dried with paper points before performing the electronic measurement. The root canal length measurements were first taken with an apex locater (EndoMaster), and then, a size ♯ 15 K-file was inserted into the root canal, and radiography was taken to determine the working length measurements. The measurement data were recorded and compared by one-way anova and Kruskal-Wallis tests. P < 0.05 was accepted for the significance. RESULTS: The mean values for radiography were 13.23 ± 1.92 mm and for EndoMaster were 13.08 ± 1.77 mm. The accuracy of EndoMaster was 80.2% in correct measurements ±1 mm (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The electronic apex locators could be useful in determining working length and thereby decreasing the need for radiographs and exposure to ionizing radiation in pediatric dental patients.

Effect of acid etching and different Er:YAG laser procedures on microleakage of three different fissure sealants in primary teeth after aging.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different surface conditioning procedures on microleakage and unfilled area proportions of three fissure sealants(Aegis, Helioseal and Helioseal F) in primary molar teeth. One hundred and fifty teeth were randomly divided into five main groups according to surface conditioning procedures. Main groups were; acid-etching(Group A); laser 3.75 W(Group B) and 5 W(Group D); acid-etching combined with laser 3.75 W(Group C) and 5 W(Group E). Samples were aged by thermocycling and water bath. Afterwards, they were immersed in basic fuchsin solution for 24 h and bucco-lingual sections were obtained from each tooth. Digital images were taken using a stereo-microscope and the microleakage and unfilled area proportions were assessed by using a software system. Consequently, Aegis FS containing amorphous calcium phosphate was found to exhibit the lowest microleakage in all surface conditioning procedures. Unfilled areas were not detected in Groups C and E of all FSs.

Comparing the antibacterial activity of gaseous ozone and chlorhexidine solution on a tooth cavity model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of gaseous ozone and chlorhexidine solution on a tooth cavity model. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-one human molars were divided into 3 groups. Cavities were then cut into the teeth (4 per tooth, 28 cavities per group). After sterilization, the teeth were left in broth cultures of 106 colony-forming units (CFU) ml-1 of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) at 36°C for 48 h. The appropriate treatment followed (group A, control; group B, 2% chlorhexidine solution; and group C, 80s of treatment with ozone, and the cavities were then filled with composite resin. After 72h, the restorations were removed, dentin chips were collected with an excavator, and the total number of microorganisms was determined. RESULTS: Both of the treatments significantly reduced the number of S. mutans present compared with the control group and there was a significant difference between the all groups in terms of the amount of the microorganisms grown (p < 0.05). Group B was beter than group C; and group C was better than group A. Moreover, it was found that the amount of the growth in the group of chlorhexidine was significantly less than that of the ozone group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine solution was the antibacterial treatment most efficacious on S. mutans; however, ozone application could be an anlternative cavity disinfection method because of ozone's cavity disinfection activity. Key words:Antibacterial activity, chlorhexidine, ozone, streptococcus mutans, tooth cavity.

KTP laser on microleakage of compomer restorations in Class V restorations.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of pulsed KTP (potassium-titanyl-phosphate) laser on decrease of dentinal microleakage of compomer restorations in primary teeth. METHOD: Twenty four primary molars were selected for the study After Class V cavity preparations in buccal and lingual surfaces, teeth were divided into three groups: Group 1: Control, Group 2: 1 WKTP laser Group 3: 1.5 WKTP laser. Then cavities were restored with compomer and teeth were thermocycled to 500 cycles, isolated and immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsin for 24 hours. Teeth were rinsed, dried, and sectioned, and microleakage was assessed by dye penetration at the occlusal and gingival surface of the teeth with stereomicroscope (40X). The data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: When the scores of microleakage at the gingival margins of the groups were compared, the differences among the groups were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). At the occlusal margins of the groups, there were no statistical differences (p>0.05). Comparing the gingival and the occlusal margins in the each group, statistically significant differences existed in the Groups 1 and 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: KTP laser is able to seal dentinal tubules and consequently reduce microleakage towards pulp in primary teeth.

Dental anomalies in the primary dentition of Turkish children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of double teeth, hypodontia, microdontia, and hyperdontia of primary teeth in Turkish children. METHODS: The study group comprised 1149 children (554 girls, 595 boys). The children were examined in twelve local nurseries in Sivas, Turkiye. Clinical data were collected by four dentists according to Kreiborg criteria; which includes double teeth, hypodontia, microdontia, and supernumerary teeth. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Dental anomalies were found in 2.0% of children. The distribution of dental anomalies were significantly more frequent (P=.023) in boys (2.9%, n=17) than in girls (1.1%, n=6). In relation to anomaly frequencies at different ages, no difference was found (P = .760). CONCLUSION: Double teeth were the most frequently (1.3%) observed anomaly. The other anomalies followed as; 0.3% supernumerary teeth, 0.3% microdontia, 0.2% hypodontia. Identification of dental anomalies in the anterior region at an early age is of great importance for esthetic and orthodontic treatment planning.