An In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects of Three Different Root Canal Irrigating Solutions against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans.

AIM: The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare antimicrobial effect of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) irrigating solutions against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on 40 freshly extracted noncarious permanent mandibular incisors teeth of both genders (males-12, females-14). In all teeth, root canal preparation was done up to size 40 K-file. Roots were sterilized and microbial suspension of mixed culture of the tested microorganisms was inoculated into canals and incubated for 48 h. Teeth were divided into four groups, group I (5.25% sodium hypochlorite), group II (2% chlorhexidine), group III (200 mg/mL N-Acetylcysteine NAC) and group IV (sterile distilled water). The antimicrobial effect in each group was compared. RESULTS: Statistical evaluation was completed using statistical software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Planktonic S. mutans bacterial count was lowest in group III followed by group I, group II and group IV.E. faecalis count was 6.14 ± 0.12 in group I, 5.76 ± 0.44 in group II, 3.88 ± 0.08 in group III and 11.98 ± 1.04 in group IV. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). The proportion of dead cell found to be 0.04± 0.01, 0.72 ± 0.06, 0.01 ± 0.06 and 1.02 ± 0.11 in groups I, II, III and IV respectively. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NAC proved to be effective against E. faecalis and S. mutans. This solution can be considered alternative in root canal infections in addition with CHX and NaOCl. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Effectiveness of three different irrigating solutions was compared and NAC found to be more efficient in decreasing bacterial count. Hence, NAC can be precisely used in irrigating root canals to achieve optimal clinical outcomes particularly regarding reoccurrences of infections. Furthermore, NAC could be proved as a promising innovation in future endodontic methodologies.

Effect of Different Obturation Techniques on the Prognosis of Endodontic Therapy: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Success of root canal therapy (RCT) is largely dependent upon the quality of biomechanical preparation and obturation of the pulp canal. Improperly cleaned or shaped root canal, regardless of the type of obturation method and obturating material, cannot lead to the success of endodontic therapy. Hence, we conducted a clinical comparative analysis of two obturating techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 140 patients receiving RCT at the department of Endodontic were included in the present study. The average follow-up time for the patients was 29 months (18-38 months). Patients were grouped into two depending on the type of obturating technique used. Evaluation of the clinical and radiographic follow-up records of the patients was done and analysis was made. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for assessing the level of significance. RESULTS: The average age of the patients undergoing obturation with carrier-based obturation (CO) technique and lateral compaction (LC) technique was 43 and 48 years respectively. While comparing failure and success of the teeth at the time of follow-up, nonsignificant results were obtained. Significant difference was seen, while comparing the presence of voids and type of teeth in which endodontic therapy was performed using different obturating techniques. CONCLUSION: Endodontic therapy done with LC obturating technique or with CO technique shows prognostic difference on the outcome or quality of treatment therapy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Quality of obturation is more important rather than type while performing endodontic therapy for better prognosis.

Imperative role of dental pulp stem cells in regenerative therapies: a systematic review.

Stem cells are primitive cells that can differentiate and regenerate organs in different parts of the body such as heart, bones, muscles and nervous system. This has been a field of great clinical interest with immense possibilities of using the stem cells in regeneration of human organ those are damaged due to disease, developmental defects and accident. The knowledge of stem cell technology is increasing quickly in all medical specialties and in dental field too. Stem cells of dental origin appears to hold the key to various cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine, but most avenues are in experimental stages and many procedures are undergoing standardization and validation. Long-term preservation of SHED cells or DPSC is becoming a popular consideration, similar to the banking of umbilical cord blood. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are the adult multipotent cells that reside in the cell rich zone of the dental pulp. The multipotent nature of these DPSCs may be utilized in both dental and medical applications. A systematic review of the literature was performed using various internet based search engines (PubMed, Medline Plus, Cochrane, Medknow, Ebsco, Science Direct, Hinari, WebMD, IndMed, Embase) using keywords like "dental pulp stem cells", "regeneration", "medical applications", "tissue engineering". DPSCs appears to be a promising innovation for the re-growth of tissues however, long term clinical studies need to be carried out that could establish some authentic guidelines in this perspective.