Push-out bond strength of oval versus circular fiber posts irradiated by erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Fiber posts in conjunction with resin cements are widely used to provide retention in endodontically treated teeth. The bond strength of restorative materials to root canal dentin is an important issue for the long-term success of restorative procedures. The push-out test is widely used to measure the bonding between the post and radicular dentin. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er-YAG) laser treatment of dentinal walls on the bond strength of circular and oval fiber posts luted in oval root canals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty mandibular premolar teeth were endodontically treated and restored with 2 different intracanal post systems. Push-out tests were performed and data were analyzed by using 2-way analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni tests. RESULTS: Laser pretreatment of dentinal walls resulted in higher push-out bond strength than that of the nonlasered groups (P<.05). Oval fiber posts showed significantly higher push-out bond strength values than those of circular fiber posts in the coronal region (P<.05). In the apical region, no statistically significant difference was noted among the groups regarding push-out bond strength (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: The laser pretreatment with an oval ultrasonic tip of an oval fiber post system improved bonding to root canal dentin when compared with a circular post system with conventional preparation.

Effect of agitation of EDTA with 808-nm diode laser on dentin microhardness.

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of agitation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with diode laser at different agitation times on root dentin microhardness. Eighty-four specimens were divided randomly into seven groups, as follows: (1) distilled water, (2) 17% EDTA, (3) EDTA with 60 s ultrasonic agitation, (4) EDTA with 10 s laser agitation, (5) EDTA with 20 s laser agitation, (6) EDTA with 30 s laser agitation, and (7) EDTA with 40 s laser agitation. All of the specimens were irrigated with 5% NaOCl and distilled water except the distilled water group. Microhardness values were calculated before and after the procedures. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. Statistically significant differences were determined between the distilled water and other groups. Also, statistically significant differences were observed between EDTA with 40 s laser agitation and EDTA, and EDTA with 10 and 20 s laser agitations. Ultrasonic agitation of EDTA affected microhardness of root dentin similar to EDTA (p > .05). All applications decreased the microhardness of root dentin when compared with distilled water. Agitation of EDTA with diode laser for 40 s caused more reduction in microhardness of root dentin when compared with EDTA.

Quantitative evaluation of apically extruded debris during root canal instrumentation with ProTaper Universal, ProTaper Next, WaveOne, and self-adjusting file systems.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the amount of apically extruded debris during preparation with ProTaper Universal (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), ProTaper Next (Dentsply Maillefer), a reciprocating single-file (WaveOne; VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany), and a self-adjusting file (SAF; ReDent Nova, Ra'anna, Israel). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six intact mandibular premolar teeth were randomly assigned to four groups. The root canals were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions using the ProTaper Universal, ProTaper Next, WaveOne, and SAF. Apically extruded debris was collected in preweighted Eppendorf tubes during instrumentation. The net weight of the apically extruded debris was determined by subtracting the preweights and postweights of the tubes. The data were statistically analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference tests at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: A measurable amount of debris was apically extruded in all groups, and the amounts of debris extrusion in the groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The ProTaper Next and WaveOne groups resulted in less debris extrusion than the ProTaper Universal group (P < 0.05), and the SAF group resulted in the least debris extrusion. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that all systems extruded debris beyond the apical foramen.

Efficiency of the Self Adjusting File, WaveOne, Reciproc, ProTaper and hand files in root canal debridement.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the canal debridement capabilities of three single file systems, ProTaper, and K-files in oval-shaped canals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five extracted human mandibular central incisors with oval-shaped root canals were selected. A radiopaque contrast medium (Metapex; Meta Biomed Co. Ltd., Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea) was introduced into the canal systems and the self-adjusting file (SAF), WaveOne, Reciproc, ProTaper, and K-files were used for the instrumentation of the canals. The percentage of removed contrast medium was calculated using pre- and post-operative radiographs. RESULTS: An overall comparison between the groups revealed that the hand file (HF) and SAF groups presented the lowest percentage of removed contrast medium, whereas the WaveOne group showed the highest percentage (P < 0.001). The ProTaper group removed more contrast medium than the SAF and HF groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: None of the instruments was able to remove the contrast medium completely. WaveOne performed significantly better than other groups.

Effect of ProTaper Universal, Endoflare, Revo-S, HyFlex coronal flaring instruments, and Gates Glidden drills on crack formation.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to evaluate crack formation after flaring root canals with Gates Glidden drills and ProTaper Universal (SX; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Endoflare (MicroMega, Besançon, France), Revo-S (MicroMega), and HyFlex (Coltene-Whaledent, Allstetten, Switzerland) flaring instruments. METHODS: One-hundred eight mandibular molars were selected. Eighteen teeth were left unprepared to serve as negative controls; the experimental groups consisted of the mesiobuccal and mesiolingual root canals of the remaining 90 teeth, which were instrumented with the following coronal flaring instruments: Gates Glidden drills and ProTaper Universal SX, Endoflare, Revo-S SC1, and HyFlex 25.08 instruments. All roots were then sectioned perpendicular to the long axis at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 mm from the cementoenamel junction. The sections were inspected under a stereomicroscope, and any crack formations were recorded. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test (P = .05). RESULTS: The Gates Glidden drills resulted in a higher rate of crack formation than that noted in the control group (P < .05). Flaring of the root canals using the ProTaper Universal, Endoflare, Revo-S, and HyFlex instruments resulted in crack formation similar to that of the control group (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Gates Glidden drills resulted in the formation of the most cracks. However, the results for the ProTaper Universal, Endoflare, Revo-S, and HyFlex flaring instruments were similar to those of the control group in terms of crack formation.