Sealing ability of composite resin placed over calcium hydroxide and calcium sulphate plugs in the repair of furcation perforations in mandibular molars: a study in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the sealing ability of various materials in the repair of furcation perforations in mandibular molars by measuring coronal microleakage with Indian ink. Ninety extracted mandibular molars were embedded individually into a plaster of Paris block, with the roots surrounded by a simulated periodontal ligament of silicone. Subsequently, a standard coronal access opening was prepared, the root canal orifices were located and a perforation was made with a size 012 round bur in a water-cooled high-speed handpiece directly into the centre of the floor of the pulp chamber. The perforations were repaired with amalgam, composite resin, calcium sulphate under composite resin and calcium hydroxide under composite resin. The teeth were coated with two layers of nail polish, leaving the access opening area uncovered, and immersed in Indian ink for 4 days at 37 degrees C. The teeth were sectioned longitudinally and dye penetration measured from the coronal level of the repair material to the apical end of the perforation. All experimental groups revealed dye penetration in varying degrees, but there was no significant difference amongst them (Kruskal-Wallis test P < 0.05). Calcium sulphate and calcium hydroxide prevented overextrusion of composite resin when used under this repair material.

Two canals in mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molars.

The purpose of this study was to examine extracted root canal treated maxillary molars cleared for: (i) the presence of a mesiopalatal (MP) canal in both first and second molars, (ii) the extension of MP canal from the pulp to the apical area, and (iii) the incidence of two foramina in the MB root. Seventy-two extracted maxillary molars (42 first and 30 second molars) were root canal treated by graduate students. The mesiobuccal (MB) roots of these samples were rendered transparent using a clearing technique. The results demonstrated that 52.3% of first and 40% of second molars had two canals obturated in the MB root. After clearing the same roots, the presence of MP canals rose to 80.9% and 66.6%, respectively. The MP canals were root canal treated as far as the foramen in 35.2% of first and 35% of second molars. However, after making them transparent, 91.1% and 90% showed the presence of this canal to the anatomical apex. The MB roots of the root canal treated first molars showed the presence of two foramina in 47% of cases but in 88.2% after clearing. The second molars showed 50% and 70%, respectively. The differences between root canal treated teeth before and after clearing were significantly different in almost all comparisons in both first and second molars. The only exception was when the presence of two foramina was compared before and after the clearing process in second molars (McNemar test P < 0.05).

Bacterial penetration through temporary restorative materials in root-canal-treated teeth in vitro.

Seventy extracted single-rooted mandibular premolars were used in this study to determine the length of time needed for bacteria present in natural human saliva to penetrate through three commonly used temporary restorative materials and through the entire root canal system obturated with the lateral condensation technique. Five intact teeth with no decay were used in the negative control group and five teeth with extensive decay in communication with the canal, in the positive control group. The 60 teeth used in the experimental group were divided into three groups. In Group 1, the access cavities of 20 teeth were temporarily restored with gutta percha, in Group 2 with IRM and in Group 3 with Cavit-G. All 70 teeth were mounted individually where the crown was placed in contact with human saliva. All five teeth in the positive control group caused broth turbidity within 24 h. In contrast, broth in the negative control group remained clear throughout the entire experimental period. In the experimental group, the average time for broth contamination of access cavities closed with gutta percha, IRM and Cavit-G was 7.85, 12.95 and 9.80 days, respectively. The Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test showed significant differences among the groups, while the multiple comparison test showed that the IRM group was statistically better than the gutta percha group when the average lengths of time for contamination were compared (P < 0.05).