How loss of tooth structure impacts the biomechanical behavior of a single-rooted maxillary premolar: FEA.

To evaluate the influence of the loss of coronal and radicular tooth structure on the biomechanical behavior and fatigue life of an endodontically treated maxillary premolar with confluent root canals using finite element analysis (FEA). An extracted maxillary second premolar was scanned to produce intact (IT) 3D model. Models were designed with an occlusal conservative access cavity (CAC) with different coronal defects; mesial defect (MO CAC), occlusal, mesial and distal defect (MOD CAC), and 2 different root canal preparations (30/.04, and 40/.04) producing 6 experimental models. FEA was used to study each model. A simulation of cycling loading of 50N was applied occlusally to stimulate the normal masticatory force. Number of cycles till failure (NCF) was used to compare strength of different models and stress distribution patterns via von Mises (vM) and maximum principal stress (MPS). The IT model survived 1.5 × 1010 cycles before failure, the CAC-30.04 had the longest survival of 1.59 × 109, while the MOD CAC-40.04 had the shortest survival of 8.35 × 107 cycles till failure. vM stress analysis showed that stress magnitudes were impacted by the progressive loss of coronal tooth structure rather than the radicular structure. MPS analysis showed that significant loss of coronal tooth structure translates into more tensile stresses. Given the limited size of maxillary premolars, marginal ridges have a critical role in the biomechanical behavior of the tooth. Access cavity preparation has a much bigger impact than radicular preparation on their strength and life span.

Effect of access design on intracoronal bleaching of endodontically treated teeth: An ex vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of access design on intracoronal bleaching with 35% carbamide peroxide on discolored teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two intact maxillary central incisors were selected, sectioned and artificially stained using whole blood. Color measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer: before staining (T1), after staining (T2), at 7 (T3), and 14 (T4) days postbleaching. After T1, specimens were stratified and divided randomly into two groups according to access design (N = 20): G1: contracted endodontic cavity (CEC) access performed with a #848-010M bur and G2: traditional endodontic cavity (TEC) access done with a #1157 bur. Canals were obturated, a cervical barrier was placed and 35% carbamide peroxide was sealed in the chamber for 7 days and replaced at 7 days for an additional 7 days. Data were collected based on CIELAB-CIE1976 (L* a* b* ) system. Repeated measures SNK anova was used to evaluate the effects of access design and time on color change (ΔE* ) and luminosity (L* ) (α < 0.05). RESULTS: For CEC, L* was significantly different at all times points (P < .05). For TEC, L* values were significantly different at all time points (P < .05) except for T0 and T4, which were similar (P > .05). There was no statistical difference for ΔE* between CEC and TEC designs at any time point (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: In general, teeth accessed with CEC or TEC designs showed statistically similar bleaching when using 35% carbamide peroxide. However, lightness values were only reestablished with bleaching through a TEC access design. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the current trend to conserve tooth structure when performing endodontic access cavities, the use of conservative access designs for bleaching discolored maxillary central incisors affected the acceptability threshold when compared with a traditional access design. These smaller accesses might not be an alternative treatment option when internal bleaching in the esthetic zone is anticipated.

A comparative evaluation of the effect of different access cavity designs on root canal instrumentation efficacy and resistance to fracture assessed on maxillary central incisors: An in vitro study.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effect of different access cavity designs on root canal instrumentation efficacy using micro-computed tomography (CT) scan and resistance to fracture evaluated using the universal testing machine on maxillary central incisor. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: Forty extracted human permanent maxillary central incisors were divided into four groups for each access cavity. The access cavities were prepared according to predefined criteria and were further assessed under Micro-CT to evaluate pre and postoperative instrumentation efficacy. After biomechanical preparation and obturation, the teeth were wrapped with tin foil to maintain a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm as periodontal ligament. Then, the silicon impression material was applied in the acrylic alveolus, to maintain and simulate the thickness of periodontal ligament and fracture resistance was checked using the universal testing machine. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance test. Pair-wise comparison was made using post hoc multiple comparison (Tukey) test. RESULTS: Fracture resistance was highest (1272 N) for the control group followed by the Lingual Conventional Access Group (1153.90 N). Fracture resistance for Lingual Cingulum Access Group was 1130.70 N and least for the Lingual Incisal Straight-Line Access Group (1022.80 N). This difference in fracture resistance among all the groups was significant (P = 0.001). Overall comparison showed that dentin volume reduction (DVR) for Group II was 22.45 mm3, for Group III was 17.37 mm3 and for Group IV was 28. 41 mm3. This difference in DVR among the three groups was significant (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The most effective instrumentation efficacy was obtained in lingual incisal straight-line access group, followed by lingual cingulum access group, followed by lingual conventional access group. The most effective fracture resistance was obtained in the lingual conventional access group, followed by the lingual cingulum access group, followed by the lingual incisal straight-line access group.