Radiographic evaluation of immature traumatized incisors following different endodontic treatments.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Indirect pulp capping, pulpotomy, and apexification are three common endodontic treatments for immature traumatized incisors. They all affect tooth root development to some extent. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the influence of these treatments on root development of immature permanent incisors following dental trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one indirect pulp capping, 48 pulpotomy, and 58 apexification cases with a mean age of 8.4 ± 1.0 years and median follow up of 12 months were included. NIH ImageJ with TurboReg plug-in was used to correct angular differences between the pre-operative and recall periapical radiographs, and to calculate variations of root length, dentin wall thickness, and apical closure. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons was applied to compare the radiographic variations. The type of apical closure was assessed qualitatively and analyzed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The apexification group had a lower trend toward apical closure than the other two groups (P < .05). It also showed thinner dentin wall thickness compared with the pulpotomy group (P = .001). There was no significant difference between pulpotomy and indirect pulp capping in the trend to apical closure (P > .05) or dentin wall thickness (P = .775). There was no significant difference in the variation of root length among the three groups (P = .06). There was a moderate correlation between the treatment and the type of apical closure (Cramer's V Coefficient = .375). Pulpotomy tended to form a normal apical constriction rather than a calcific barrier while apexification showed the opposite inclination. Indirect pulp capping had no specific inclination toward any type of apical closure. CONCLUSIONS: Apexification resulted in an abnormal root development mostly by affecting the dentin wall thickness and apical closure. Pulpotomy was beneficial for normal root development of immature traumatized teeth.

Desalination Performance of MoS2 Membranes with Different Single-Pore Sizes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we examined how varying pore sizes affect the desalination capabilities of MoS2 membranes while keeping the total pore area constant. The total pore area within a MoS2 nanosheet was maintained at 200 Å2, and the single-pore areas were varied, approximately 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 Å2. By comparing the water flux and ion rejection rates, we identified the optimal single-pore area for MoS2 membrane desalination. Our simulation results revealed that as the single-pore area expanded, the water flux increased, the velocity of water molecules passing the pores accelerated, the energy barrier decreased, and the number of water molecules within the pores rose, particularly between 30 and 40 Å2. Balancing water flux and rejection rates, we found that a MoS2 membrane with a single-pore area of 40 Å2 offered the most effective water treatment performance. Furthermore, the ion rejection rate of MoS2 membranes was lower for ions with lower valences. This was attributed to the fact that higher-valence ions possess greater masses and radii, leading to slower transmembrane rates and higher transmembrane energy barriers. These insights may serve as theoretical guidance for future applications of MoS2 membranes in water treatment.