Lesions Misdiagnosed as Endodontic Pathosis: A Narrative Review.

In daily practice, clinicians come across certain radiographic abnormalities which may or may not be asymptomatic. This abstract discusses radiographic abnormalities encountered by clinicians in daily practice, some of which resemble endodontic lesions. Prompt attention is crucial as these lesions can be benign or malignant. The article emphasizes the importance of differential diagnosis for accurate identification of periapical pathosis.

The Effect of Lasers on the Healing of Periapical Lesion: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Endodontic treatment of teeth with periapical lesions presents more clinical difficulty. Various lasers in several methods are used in endodontics, and most of them are utilized as an adjunctive protocol in order to reduce the bacterial load of the root canal system. Improved disinfection plays a crucial role in enhanced and accelerated healing of periapical lesions. This review aims to summarize studies assessing the effect of lasers on periapical lesion healing. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science (ISI) online databases were searched, with no publication year or status restriction, for relevant articles on April 2023. Clinical studies evaluating the effect of laser application on the periapical lesion of patients using radiographic assessment were considered eligible for inclusion. Results: Eight studies were included after carefully screening the obtained articles, first by their title and abstract and then by their full texts. Diode (4), Er, Cr: YSGG (3), and Nd: YAG (1) lasers were used with output powers that varied from 0.75 to 2 watts. Photodynamic therapy was employed in two studies, and in other studies, the root canal system was directly irradiated. Irradiation of the root canal system was adjunctive to standard preparation in all studies. The healing of the teeth treated with lasers was not inferior to those conventionally treated. In all of the included studies, laser application outperformed the standard cleaning and shaping protocol; however, this improved or faster healing was not statistically significant in most studies. Conclusion: Lasers might expedite and improve the healing process of periapical lesions. Since lasers enhance the quality of cleaning of the root canal system, it is hard to point out the exact mechanism of it. Further investigations are needed to realize the effectiveness of this treatment modality and to discover the underlying biological concepts.

A system for automatic classification of endodontic treatment quality in CBCT.

OBJECTIVES: An evaluation of the effectiveness of a new computational system proposed for automatic classification, developed based on a Siamese network combined with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), is presented. It aims to identify endodontic technical errors using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). The study also aims to compare the performance of the automatic classification system with that of dentists. METHODS: One thousand endodontically treated maxillary molars sagittal and coronal reconstructions were evaluated for the quality of the endodontic treatment and the presence of periapical hypodensities by three board-certified dentists and by an oral and maxillofacial radiologist. The proposed classification system was based on a Siamese network combined with EfficientNet B1 or EfficientNet B7 networks. Accuracy, sensivity, precision, specificity, and F1-score values were calculated for automated artificial systems and dentists. Chi-square tests were performed. RESULTS: The performances were obtained for EfficienteNet B1, EfficientNet B7 and dentists. Regarding accuracy, sensivity and specificity, the best results were obtained with EfficientNet B1. Concerning precision and F1-score, the best results were obtained with EfficientNet B7. The presence of periapical hypodensity lesions was associated with endodontic technical errors. In contrast, the absence of endodontic technical errors was associated with the absence of hypodensity. CONCLUSIONS: Quality evaluation of the endodontic treatment performed by dentists and by Siamese Network combined with EfficientNet B7 or EfficientNet B1 networks was comparable with a slight superiority for the Siamese Network. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CNNs have the potential to be used as a support and standardization tool in assessing endodontic treatment quality in clinical practice.

The outcome of combined use of iRoot BP Plus and iRoot SP for root-end filling in endodontic microsurgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Root-end filling is important for the clinical outcome of endodontic microsurgery. Our previous study showed that combined application of iRoot BP Plus Root Repair Material (BP-RRM) and iRoot SP Injectable Root Canal Sealer (SP-RCS) in root-end filling exhibited better apical sealing as compared to the application of BP-RRM alone. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of the combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS on the prognosis of teeth with refractory periapical diseases after endodontic microsurgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 240 teeth with refractory periapical diseases scheduled for endodontic microsurgery were randomly divided into BP-RRM/SP-RCS group (n = 120) and BP-RRM group (n = 120). The patients were followed up at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after endodontic microsurgery. Pre- and post-operative clinical and radiographic examinations were performed to evaluate the treatment outcome. The 1-year success rate of endodontic microsurgery in BP-RRM/SP-RCS and BP-RRM groups was compared by Chi-square test. Factors that might impact the prognosis were further analyzed using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 221 teeth completed the 12-month follow-up. The 1-year success rates of the BP-RRM/SP-RCS and BP-RRM groups were 94.5% (104/110) and 92.8% (103/111), respectively. The combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS achieved a clinical outcome comparable to BP-RRM alone (P = 0.784). Tooth type (P = 0.002), through-and-through/apico-marginal lesion (P = 0.049), periodontal status (P < 0.0001), and Kim's lesion classification (P < 0.0001) were critical factors associated with the 1-year success of endodontic microsurgery. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS is a practicable method for root-end filling in endodontic microsurgery with a satisfactory 1-year clinical outcome. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The combined application of BP-RRM and SP-RCS in EMS is an effective root-end filling method with a satisfactory 1-year clinical outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052174).

Inflammatory Lesions of the Jaws.

This article defines the fascial and spatial anatomy of the suprahyoid neck region, delineates the role of CT and MR imaging, discusses the inflammatory conditions of the jaws and adjacent spaces and their clinical symptomatology, and illustrates the appearance of these conditions.

COVID-19 Severity in Patients With Apical Periodontitis: A Case Control Study.

OBJECTIVES: Apical periodontitis (AP) has been associated with systemic inflammatory biomarkers that have also been associated with COVID-19 severity. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the presence of apical periodontitis could be associated with increased risk of COVID-19 complications. METHODS: A case control study (N = 949) was performed using the medical and dental records of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the State of Qatar between March 2020 and February 2021. Cases comprised COVID-19 patients (n = 63) who experienced complications (death, intensive care unit admissions, mechanical ventilation), and controls were COVID-19 patients (n = 886) who recovered without such complications. The presence of periapical apical periodontitis was assessed on the radiographic records taken prior to COVID-19 infection. Associations between apical periodontitis and COVID 19 complications were analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and medical factors. Blood biomarkers were assessed in both groups and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: COVID-19 complications were found to be associated with the presence of apical periodontitis (adjusted odds ratio = 2.72; 95% CI, 1.30-5.68; P = .008). Blood analyses revealed that COVID-19 patients with apical periodontitis had higher levels of white blood cells and haemoglobin A1c than the patients without apical periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of apical periodontitis could be associated with increased risk of COVID-19 complications.

Assessment of Digital Intraoral Periapical Radiograph for the Detection of Apical Root Resorption in Inflammatory Periapical Pathologies: A Radiovisiography Study.

Introduction Resorption often takes the form of external inflammatory root resorption. Apical periodontitis or an apical cyst is the most typical cause of external inflammatory root resorption. Failure of endodontic treatment can occur if severe apical root resorption occurs.This is due to the difficulty of reaching these sites.Apical root resorption is usually discovered during routine radiographs and is usually in its later stages. If the lesion is advanced, extraction is the only viable solution. An accurate diagnosis of incipient root resorption is essential. This research is designed to analyze the effectiveness of digital intraoral periapical radiographs in assessing apical root resorption (ARR) related to periapical pathologies. Material and methods This cross-sectional radiographic observational research was conducted in a dental college and hospital in central India. Radiovisiography (RVG) images of 190 patients' teeth with inflammatory periapical pathologies were evaluated to determine the presence or absence of resorption in the apical area of the root. After the radiographic assessment of the apical root resorption, the extraction of the affected teeth was done under all aseptic conditions. The periapical tissue was sent for histological analysis and the extracted tooth sample was examined for the presence or absence of apical root resorption. Results In comparison to apical periodontitis, the proportion of severe root resorption patients was significantly higher in abscess and periapical granuloma. Using Pearson's Chi-square test, the difference in patient proportions according to the kind of resorption in the three radiological diagnosis groups was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.0058. Conclusion It was concluded that on radiographic examination, digital intraoral periapical radiographs were found to be accurate in determining periapical apical pathologies and apical root resorption.

Lesões periapicais de origem não-endodôntica: uma revisão integrativa

O objetivo deste trabalho foi elencar quais são as principais lesões periapicais que não têm origem a partir da necrose pulpar. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão integrativa da literatura, com busca nas bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online (MEDLINE) e Bibliografia Brasileira de Odontologia (BBO). Os descritores utilizados foram "doenças periapicais" e "diagnóstico diferencial", combinados com o operador booleano "AND". Foram encontrados 42 artigos que responderam aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. A análise dos estudos incluídos mostrou que as principais lesões periapicais de origem não endodôntica são o queratocisto odontogênico e o ameloblastoma. Embora a prevalência de lesões periapicais não endodônticas seja baixa, é importante estar atento aos possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais, visto que as lesões que mais apareceram na literatura se tratam de patologias localmente agressivas e potencialmente mutiladoras. Ademais, a conduta do profissional que se depara com qualquer tipo de lesão periapical que apresente comportamento fora dos padrões de normalidade deve ser a realização de biópsia e análise histopatológica.

The aim of this study was to list the main periapical lesions that do not originate from pulpal necrosis. An integrative literature review was carried out, with a search in the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online (MEDLINE) and Bibliografia Brasileira de Odontologia (BBO) databases. The keywords used were "periapical diseases" and "differential diagnosis", combined with the boolean operator "AND". 42 articles were found that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis of the included studies showed that the main periapical lesions of non-endodontic origin are the odontogenic keratocyst and the ameloblastoma. Although the prevalence of non-endodontic periapical lesions is low, it is important to be aware of possible differential diagnoses, since the lesions that most appeared in the literature are locally aggressive and potentially mutilating pathologies. In addition, the conduct of the professional who is faced with any type of periapical lesion that presents behavior outside the normal range should be to perform a biopsy and histopathological analysis.

The bioceramic sealer iRoot SP promotes osteogenic differentiation of human stem cells from apical papilla via miR-141-3p/SPAG9/MAPK signalling pathway.

AIM: The premixed bioceramic sealer iRoot SP that is widely used clinically has been reported to kill bacterial biofilms and promote osteogenic differentiation of human stem cells from the apical papilla (hSCAPs). Although miR-141-3p has been substantiated to be involved in the osteogenic process, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-141-3p in osteogenic differentiation and underlying mechanisms of iRoot SP-treated hSCAPs. METHODOLOGY: hSCAPs were extracted from tissue blocks with enzyme digestion and identified by using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and alizarin red staining. The mRNA expression level of miR-141-3p in hSCPAs after culture with iRoot SP was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. SPAG9 was identified as a downstream target gene of miR-141-3p by dual-luciferase report assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and activity detection, alizarin red staining, calcium concentration assay, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to estimate osteogenic differentiation ability and involved protein expression levels of the osteogenic makers and signalling pathway-related factors in iRoot SP-treated hSCAPs. Data were analysed by one-way anova and post hoc Tukey's test to determine any statistical differences between the experimental groups and the control group. p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Expression of miR-141-3p was reduced in iRoot SP-treated hSCAPs with the increased exposure time up to 7 days, and the western blot and qRT-PCR results revealed that the osteogenic markers osteocalcin (OCN), osterix (OSX), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) were inversely correlated with miR-141-3p. The negative regulatory relationship between miR-141-3p and SPAG9/ mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signalling axis was validated in this in vitro experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The bioceramic sealer iRoot SP promoted osteogenic differentiation of hSCAPs by inhibiting miR-141-3p following down-regulated SPAG9 expression, and activated MAPK pathway. These findings proposed a novel therapeutic impact of bioceramic sealer iRoot SP inducing bone regeneration in refractory periapical periodontitis.

Prevalence of Periapical Radiolucency and Conventional Root Canal Treatment in Adults: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies.

Cross-sectional studies assess a population's health state and the prevalence of diseases or treatments. Few systematic reviews regarding the prevalence of periapical radiolucency (PARL) and nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) were conducted in the last decade. The goal of this study was to collect and review all updated and available cross-sectional studies that focus on the prevalence of both PARL and NSRCT in adult populations. It involves a systematic literature review of cross-sectional studies on the prevalence of PARL and NSRCT published from 1987 to 2022 in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus with specific keywords used in the search process. A total of 52 articles were included in this systematic review. The majority of the included articles were from different populations. The overall prevalence of teeth with PARL was 43,522 (6.40%), while the prevalence of NSRCT teeth was 52,149 (7.67%). On the other hand, the overall prevalence of PARL in teeth that have received endodontic treatment and teeth that have not received endodontic treatment were 22,110 (3.25%) and 21,412 (3.15%), respectively. A meta-analysis was not performed due to underreporting of publication bias and the high degree of heterogeneity between studies. The overall risk of bias assessment revealed a low risk of bias in 25 (48%) of the included studies. The prevalence of NSRCT was higher at 7.67%, followed by PARL at approximately 6.40%. However, future studies are recommended to investigate the prevalence of both PARL and NSRCT in different patient populations.

What ultimately matters in root canal treatment success and tooth preservation: A 25-year cohort study.

AIM: There are currently no prospective studies evaluating the long-term outcomes of non-surgical root canal treatments beyond 5 years, both in terms of treatment success and tooth preservation, and identifying factors predictive of treatment outcome. The aim of the present work was therefore to fill this gap by assessing these outcomes over time and identifying predictive variables based on systematic data collection over a 25-year period. METHODOLOGY: Data concerning the treatments (N = 2500) were systematically collected since 1990. Information was recorded among clinical, technical, radiographic and patient-related characteristics, i.e., approximately 150 variables for each treatment. The data were analysed regarding both treatment success and tooth preservation by multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, and survival curves were generated. The statistical significance level was set at 0.0125. RESULTS: In total, 56.4% of the treatments could be followed over time (0-25 years, mean = 6.5 years, median = 5 years). Survival probability decreased almost linearly for treatment success, with about 85% after 5 years and 60% after 20 years, and for tooth preservation, with about 90% at 5 years and 50% at 20 years. The variables significantly associated with treatment failure were: pre-operative pain (Hazard Ratio-HR = 1.56 [95% CI 1.23-1.97]), persistent pain (HR = 2.63 [95% CI 1.44-4.80]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.46 [95% CI 0.36-0.58]), size of periapical bone radiolucency (HR = 1.88 [95% CI 1.67-2.11]), and tooth type (p = .0006). For tooth extraction, they were: combined endodontic-periodontal lesion (HR = 3.37 [95% CI 1.88-6.05]), pre-existing complication before treatment (HR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.26-2.21]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.45 [95% CI 0.33-0.60]), clinical failure of root canal treatment (HR = 2.78 [95% CI 1.98-3.89]) and tooth type (p = .0012). CONCLUSION: Root canal treatment success and tooth preservation on the arch are not static outcomes, but evolve with time. Among a substantial set of potential predictors, only a small proportion was significantly predictive of treatment success and tooth preservation, most of them being disease and patient characteristics, and not technical aspects, except pre-existing complications. These observations challenge the importance frequently given to byzantine considerations related to the numerous technical details of endodontic procedures, as opposed to general concepts of good clinical practice.

Forty-five-months follow-up of a minimally invasive, interdisciplinary treated hemangioma of the mandible with a high risk of severe bleeding - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemangiomas are benign tumours, mostly seen in the soft tissues. The intraosseous appearance is rare, in particular in the jaws they represent a very seldom malformation. AIM: To present a combined endodontic and surgical management report of a clinical case with a rare intraosseous hemangioma diagnosis in the mandible. CASE PRESENTATION: This well-documented case report describes the interdisciplinary treatment approach of an intraosseous hemangioma in the left mandible of a 70-year-old male patient. This incidental finding was detected through a routine dental examination. The panoramic radiograph revealed an asymptomatic, apical translucency approximately 15 mm diameter with contact to the mesial root of the tooth 36. The clinical examinations showed no abnormalities. The multifaceted specialized treatments started with the endodontic treatment of the tooth prior to the surgical removal of the lesion and were followed by the histological assessment. As derived from the histologically verified diagnosis, this rare case included the risk of severe bleeding complications during therapy.

Hospitalisations due to pulp and periapical conditions in Australian children from 1998-99 to 2017-18.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the demographic and time trends in hospitalisation rate for Pulp and Periapical Diseases (P&PDs) over 20-years (1998-99 to 2017-18), amongst children and adolescents (under age 19 years) in all states and territories of Australia. P&PDs are considered potentially preventable, with the possibility of them resulting in emergency presentations if timely treatment is not provided. They can result in treatment under general anaesthesia, which is costly. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of hospitalisation for pulp and periapical diseases. SETTING: Public and private hospitals across Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of hospitalisations (measured using the number of separations or cases of hospital admission) for all pulp and periapical diseases by age-group. RESULTS: There were about 40,000 hospitalisations regarding P&PDs over the 20 years among Australian children under 19 years old. The rate of admissions ranged from means of 28.5 to 44.1 per 100,000 population. The number of admissions increased over 20 years for all children, except those younger than 4 years. Children aged 5-9 years had the highest rate of admissions and, more days in hospital per admission than other age groups. Most children only had one-day admissions. CONCLUSION: Pulp and periapical diseases hospitalisation rates have increased over two decades. Additional approaches to improve child dental health in Australia need to be considered.

The Potential Clinical Applications of a Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip for the Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Enterococcus faecalis-Associated Endodontic Infections: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluated the potential clinical use of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology in the identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of E. faecalis in endodontic infections. The search methodology employed in this review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Multiple scientific databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and SCIELO, were utilized, along with exploration of grey literature sources. Up to September 2023, these resources were searched using specific keywords and MeSH terms. An initial comprehensive search yielded 202 articles. Ultimately, this systematic review incorporated 12 studies. Out of these, seven aimed to identify E. faecalis, while the remaining five evaluated its susceptibility to different antibiotics. All studies observed that the newly developed microfluidic chip significantly reduces detection time compared to traditional methods. This enhanced speed is accompanied by a high degree of accuracy, efficiency, and sensitivity. Most research findings indicated that the entire process took anywhere from less than an hour to five hours. It is important to note that this approach bypasses the need for minimum inhibitory concentration measurements, as it does not rely on traditional methodologies. Microfluidic devices enable the rapid identification and accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing of E. faecalis, which are crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment in endodontic infections.

[Maxillary sinus lesions and their association with apical lesions observed by cone beam computed tomography. A retrospective cross-sectional study]. / Lesiones del seno maxilar y su asociación con lesiones apicales observadas por tomografía computarizada de haz cónico. Un estudio transversal retrospectivo.

Introduction: Through cone beam computed tomography, alterations in the maxillary sinuses, such as opacities, space occupation and thickening of the mucosa, can be observed. Some factors contribute to this thickening, standing out among dental factors, periodontitis, apical pathology and endodontic treatments. Objective: To evaluate the association between changes observed in the maxillary sinuses and apical lesions using cone beam computed tomography. Materials and methods: It was a descriptive study with a retrospective and cross-sectional, correlational, field, non-experimental design. The sample consisted of 115 tomographic volumes obtained using Planmeca ProMax 3D Classic equipment (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland). The presence/absence of endodontic treatment in the present posterior teeth, presence/absence of periapical lesion associated with these teeth, the size of the periapical lesion, presence/absence of alteration in the maxillary sinus and its thickness were evaluated. Results: Apical lesions were observed that averaged a size of 3.32 ± 1.82 mm, and almost half (44.35%) presented between 2 and 4 mm in size. The main alteration of the maxillary sinus that was observed was the thickening of the mucosa (58.26%). The average thickness of the thickening of the sinus mucosa was 3.51 ± 1.78 mm, with 72.17% of the cases with thickening greater than 2 mm. Conclusion: There was an association between the changes observed in the maxillary sinuses and apical lesions. The larger and closer the lesion was to the sinus, the greater the thickening of the sinus mucosa.

Tratamento Endodôntico de Dente com Calcificação Radicular Pós-Trauma: Relato de Caso Clínico / Endodontic Treatment Of Teeth With Post-Trauma Root Calcification: Case Report

A calcificação do canal radicular é um processo que pode ocorrer posteriormente a um traumatismo dentário ou que pode se desenvolver lentamente em decorrência do envelhecimento dentário fisiológico. É caracterizada pela deposição de tecido duro tanto na câmara pulpar como no canal radicular. Essa condição pode ser diagnosticada através de radiografias periapicais e tomografia computadorizada. Em alguns casos, pode estar associada à necrose pulpar e presença de lesão periapical, e o tratamento pode ser considerado bastante complexo. Este relato de caso clínico aborda o tratamento endodôntico do elemento 21, sintomático, com obliteração do canal radicular e necrose pulpar como sequela de um traumatismo dentário. Após a realização de todos os exames, foi dado o diagnóstico de periodontite apical crônica, sendo proposto o tratamento endodôntico convencional. A maior dificuldade encontrada foi a localização da entrada do canal radicular. Inúmeras radiografias foram realizadas a fim de evitar desvios. Somente ao final do terço médio foi possível localizar a entrada do canal radicular e dar prosseguimento ao tratamento, utilizando a técnica coroa-ápice e medicação intracanal à base de hidróxido de cálcio durante as sessões. Foi possível realizar a obturação do canal radicular quando a paciente se mostrou assintomática. Obteve-se sucesso na realização da técnica, e, após a conclusão do caso, foi possível observar remissão dos sintomas. Após um período de acompanhamento de 6 meses e, posteriormente, de 3 anos, foi possível observar cicatrização dos tecidos periapicais

The calcification of the root canal is a process that may occur after a dental trauma or slowly develop due to physiological dental aging. It is characterized by hard tissue deposition on both the pulp chamber and the root canal. Periapical radiography and computed tomography can be used to diagnose this condition. In some cases, it may be associated with pulp necrosis and the presence of periapical injury, and the treatment may be considered to be quite complex. This case report addresses the endodontic treatment of the central incisor, symptomatic, with root canal obliteration and pulp necrosis as a sequela of dental trauma. After all the tests, chronic apical periodontitis was diagnosed, and conventional endodontic treatment was proposed. The most significant difficulty faced was when locating the root canal's entrance. Numerous radiographs were carried out to avoid deviations. The opening of the root canal could only be found at the end of the middle third, so treatment could proceed by using the crown- down technique and intracanal medication based on calcium hydroxide during the sessions. When the patient was asymptomatic, the root canal has been filled. The accomplishment of the technique was successful, and after finishing the case, there was remission of symptoms. After a six-month follow-up period and three years, the healing of the periapical tissues was observed.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis simulating endodontic periapical lesion: Are we prepared to diagnose and manage it? A case report.

Many aggressive non-endodontic radiolucent lesions show very similar clinical and radiographical features to periapical lesions of endodontic origin. Since the treatments of endodontic and non-endodontic lesions differ markedly, a precise diagnosis is imperative. Thus, the present study aimed at presenting a clinical case on the diagnosis and management of a Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) lesion mimicking a periapical lesion of endodontic origin. A 51-year-old male patient was referred to a private dental office due to slight pain from the region of tooth 36. Although no sign of prosthetic or endodontic failure was noted, radiographical examination revealed a radiolucent image with poorly defined borders associated with the periapical region of the tooth. Apicoectomy and bone curettage were then performed and, given the clinical and laboratory features, the definitive diagnosis of solitary eosinophilic granuloma was made. The surgical treatment was sufficient for the remission of the symptoms, and recurrence was not observed. Given the current case, dentists should be aware of LCH lesions as they may mimic endodontic periapical pathoses, leading to misdiagnosis and therapeutic complications. Moreover, alveolar bone lesions may be the first or only sign of LCH in many cases.

Local Immunomodulatory Effects of Intracanal Medications in Apical Periodontitis.

The immune system is an extremely complex biological network that plays a crucial role in the hemostasis of periapical tissue, pathogenesis of apical periodontitis (AP), and periapical tissue healing. The successful elimination of microbial infections remains a significant challenge, mostly because of the ever-growing development of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The bacterial endurance in the root canal system contributes to features ranging from altered posttreatment healing to exacerbation of chronic periradicular immune response, which compromise the outcome of endodontic treatment. A highly effective strategy for combating infectious diseases and the associated inflammation-mediated tissue damage is to modulate the host immune response in conjunction with antimicrobial therapy. There are several medications currently used in endodontic treatment; however, they suffer various levels of microbial resistance and do not deliver all the required characteristics to simultaneously address both intracanal bacteria and periapical inflammation. The interaction of antimicrobial agents with the immune system can impact its function, leading to immune-suppressive or immune-stimulatory effects. The group of nonconventional antimicrobial medications, such as antimicrobial peptides, propolis, and nanomaterials, are agents that provide strong antimicrobial effectiveness and concomitant immunomodulatory and/or reparative effect without any host tissue damages. In this review, we provide an overview of local immune modulation in AP and a comprehensive review of the immunomodulatory effect of antimicrobial intracanal medications applied in endodontics with specific emphasis on the antimicrobial nanomaterial-based approaches that provide immunomodulatory potential for successful clinical deployment in endodontics.

Influence of post type on periapical status: a prospective study in a Brazilian population.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study assessed the effect of post type used to restore endodontically treated teeth in the onset, progression, and remission of periapical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty teeth (92 patients) were endodontically treated and received a glass fiber post or a cast metal post and a final restoration at a University Clinic by undergraduate students. All patients were followed up for a mean period of 5.1 ± 2.2 years. Periapical Index (PAI) was used for endodontic assessment. Two calibrated and blind examiners assessed the radiographs. The longevity of the endodontic treatment was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS: Of the included teeth, 67.1% received glass fiber posts while 32.9% received cast metal posts. There were 4 endodontic failures, two glass fiber posts with a PAI = 3 in the baseline and PAI = 4 in the last follow-up, and one PAI = 4 in baseline and last follow-up. One cast metal post-failure was PAI = 4 in the baseline and the last follow-up. After 9.4 years, the overall success rate of the endodontic treatment was 97.1% (p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: The tested posts presented similar endodontic healing. Precautions taken during endodontic therapy, post cementation, and final restoration are more likely to be responsible for the success of endodontic treatment rather than a specific type of post. Clinical relevance The type of post is not related to the success of the endodontic treatment.