Christos Gogos

Comparative Study of Apical Sealing Ability of a New Resin-Based Root Canal Sealer

The purpose of this study was to compare the microleakage of two root canal sealers, Fibrefill (resin-based sealer) and calciobiotic root canal sealer (CRCS; calcium hydroxide-based sealer), with and without the presence of smear layer. The model used for the measurement of microleakage was a fluid transport model. Sixty human extracted teeth were used in this study. The teeth were divided into four groups and treated as follows. In group A, the smear layer was left intact, and canals were obturated with gutta-percha and Fibrefill. In group B, the smear layer was removed, and canals were obturated with gutta-percha and Fibrefill. In group C, the smear layer was left intact, and the canals were obturated with gutta-percha and CRCS. In group D, the smear layer was removed, and canals were obturated with gutta-percha and CRCS. Microleakage was measured at 7 days, 1 month, and 2 months. The results showed that the Fibrefill groups with and without smear layer leaked significantly less than the CRCS groups at all experimental times. No significant difference was found between the groups of same materials, but the microleakage values were less when the smear layer was removed.

Adhesion of a New Methacrylate Resin-Based Sealer to Human Dentin

The purpose of this study was to compare the shear bond strength of four root canal sealers: Fibrefill (a methacrylate resin sealer), Endion (a glass ionomer sealer), Topseal (an epoxy resin sealer), and CRCS (a calcium hydroxide sealer) to human root canal dentin. The dentin specimens were divided into four groups of 12 specimens each and etched with 3 ml of EDTA 17% before rinsing with NaOCl 2.5% and distilled water. Bond strength was tested using a test machine by subjecting samples to a shear load at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The best results were observed in the Fibrefill group, in which the mean shear bond strength was 7.993 +/- 2.365 MPa. The values in the Endion (1.816 +/- 0.614 MPa) and CRCS (2.224 +/- 0.509 MPa) groups were significantly lower than in the Fibrefill and Topseal (6.235 +/- 1.428 MPa) groups. Inspection of the fractured surfaces revealed the bond failure to be mainly adhesive to dentin for Fibrefill and cohesive for Endion sealer. CRCS and Topseal sealers showed both adhesive and cohesive failures.

Top-cited Articles in Endodontic Journals

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to identify the 100 top-cited articles published in journals dedicated to endodontology and analyze their characteristics to describe the quality and evolution of research in the field of endodontology. METHODS The Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge Database and the Journal Citation Report Science Editions were used to retrieve the 100 most cited articles published in journals dedicated to endodontics. The top-cited articles were selected and analyzed with regard to journals, authors, institution, country of origin, publication title and year, number of citations, article type, study design, level of evidence, and field of study. RESULTS The top 100 articles were cited between 87 and 554 times. These articles appeared in 4 different journals, with more than half in the Journal of Endodontics, followed by the journals Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Endodontology, the International Endodontic Journal, and Endodontics & Dental Traumatology. Forty-eight articles were published between 1990 and 1999. All articles were published in English and primarily originated from the United States (n = 52). The majority of articles were basic science articles (n = 55), followed by clinical research studies (n = 28) and nonsystematic reviews (n = 17). Uncontrolled case series with level IV of evidence and narrative reviews with level V of evidence were the most frequent types of study design. The main topics covered by the top-cited articles were microleakage and endodontic microbiology. CONCLUSIONS This analysis of citation rates reveals useful and interesting information about scientific progress in the field of endodontics. Basic research and observational studies published in high-impact endodontic journals had the highest citation rates.

Experimental Formation of Dentin-like Structure in the Root Canal Implant Model Using Cryopreserved Swine Dental Pulp Progenitor Cells

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to present histological and immunohistochemical evidence showing the regenerative capacity of swine dental pulp stem cells (S-DPSCs) seeded on organic or synthetic scaffolds and implanted as hybrid root implants in the jaw bone of minipigs. METHODS Immature permanent incisor teeth and unerupted premolars at the early root-forming stage were extracted from three 7-month-old minipigs, and mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells were isolated from dental pulp. Cells were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. A year later, new permanent incisor and premolar teeth were extracted; pulp tissue was removed; and pieces of root canals of the extracted teeth, containing collagen or Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds seeded with the autologous cryopreserved DPSCs, were implanted into the fresh post-extraction socket of the mini pig jaw. The resulting constructs were harvested after 6 and 10 weeks and evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS Six weeks postoperatively, the central canal space of the root implants showed degrading scaffold material. New extracellular matrix had been deposited in a polar predentin-like pattern on the canal dentinal walls by cuboidal nonpolarized cells. Ten weeks postoperatively, newly formed organic matrix had been consistently deposited on the canal walls. The presence of a continuous layer of polarized cells showing typical columnar morphology adjacent to the newly deposited organic matrix was evident. CONCLUSIONS The interactions of S-DPSCs with the dentin matrix of roots implanted in the jawbone of minipigs constitute a model to study in vivo organization and differentiation potential of DPSCs.

Shear bond strength of AH-26 root canal sealer to dentine using three dentine bonding agents

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to compare the bond strength of AH-26 root canal sealer to human root canal dentine exposed to different intracanal medications both with and without the use of three bonding agents. The materials used were AH-26 sealer, two one-bottle bonding agents (Single Bond, Bond-1) and one self-etching bonding agent (Clearfill SE Bond). METHODS The dentine substrate was obtained from single rooted human teeth. The dentine specimens were treated either with EDTA 15% or phosphoric acid 37% to achieve the removal of smear layer. The AH-26 sealer was placed on the dentine surfaces both with and without the use of the bonding agents. Bond strength was tested using a single plane shear test assembly. RESULTS The SBS values were (MPa): Group A (EDTA-AH-26) 3.678+/-0.853, Group B (Phosphoric acid-AH-26) 3.470+/-0.834, Group C (EDTA-Single Bond-AH-26) 4.8+/-0.865, Group D (Phosphoric acid-Single Bond-AH-26) 5.043+/-1.022, Group E (EDTA-Bond 1-AH-26) 4.939+/-0.877, Group F (Phosphoric acid-Bond 1-AH-26) 5.101+/-1.117, Group G (Clearfill SE Bond-AH-26) 6.975+/-1.694. The use of dentine bonding agents improved significantly (p<0.05) the adhesion of AH-26 sealer with the root canal dentine. However, the best results were obtained with the self-etching system. Similar results were observed from the pretreatment of dentine either with phosphoric acid 35% or EDTA 15%. CONCLUSIONS The use of dentine bonding agents gave higher shear bond strengths of AH-26 sealer to human root canal dentine.

Shear bond strength of AH-26 and Epiphany to composite resin and Resilon.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative bond strengths of AH-26 and Epiphany sealers to both Resilon and composite resin. Four groups of substrate/bonded sealer combinations were tested: group A, composite resin substrate + Epiphany sealer; group B, composite resin substrate + AH-26 sealer; group C, Resilon substrate + Epiphany sealer; and group D, Resilon substrate + AH-26 sealer. Bond strength was evaluated in shear mode by using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Statistical analysis (Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn tests) showed that the bond strength of AH-26 to both substrates was significantly greater than the bond strength of Epiphany. Therefore, the monoblock in the root canal might be more effectively achieved by combining Resilon core material with the epoxy resin-based sealer (AH-26) rather than Epiphany sealer.

Comparative study of the cytotoxic effect of resilon against two cell lines

Resilon is a new material that is a candidate to replace gutta-percha as a root filling material. This study evaluated the antiproliferative effect of Resilon and two commercially available gutta-percha points (Roeko, Dentsply). Two established cell lines (L929 and RPC-C2A) were used for the experiment. Cell survival fraction was estimated by the sulforhodamine-B assay, in reference to controls after 48-h exposure. Non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunns multiple comparisons) were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the results (alpha=0.05). Cytotoxicity in a descending order was: Resilon > Roeko gutta-percha > Dentsply gutta-percha. At 24-h exposure, no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were observed between tested materials in both cell lines. At 48-h exposure, statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found between Resilon and the other materials in the L929 cell line. In the RPC-C2A cell line Resilon was significantly more cytotoxic than Dentsply gutta-percha (p<0.05), but no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found between Resilon and Roeko gutta-percha. The cytotoxicity of Resilon increased significantly from 24 h to 48 h in both cell lines. Resilon points were more cytotoxic than gutta-percha points. The cytotoxicity was time dependent and increased after 48 h.

Comparative Study of Sealing Ability of Two Root–end-filling Materials With and Without the Use of Dentin-bonding Agents

The purpose of this study was to examine microleakage of two root-end-filling materials with and without the use of bonding agents. For microleakage measurement a fluid transport model was used. Sixty single-rooted teeth were used in this study. They were prepared with step-back technique and then an apicoectomy was performed. Then the teeth were divided into four groups. Group A were filled with Fuji II LC glass-ionomer cement, group B were filled with Fuji II LC and a new bonding agent, Fuji Bond, group C were filled with Admira composite resin, and group D were filled with Admira and Admira Bond, a new bonding agent. At 24 h, 1 month, and 2 months after filling the leakage along these filling materials was determined under a low pressure of 0.1 atm. At all experimental times, glass-ionomer groups showed significantly less microleakage than resins groups. Between Admira and Admira Bond groups, significantly less leakage was observed in the root sections with Admira Bond at 24 h.

Fluid‐transport evaluation of lateral condensation, ProTaper gutta‐percha and warm vertical condensation obturation techniques

The purpose of this study was to compare the microleakage of four obturation techniques (lateral condensation, lateral condensation of ProTaper Gutta-percha, single ProTaper Gutta-percha and warm vertical condensation) over a 3-month period. A fluid-transport model was used to measure microleakage. Sixty human-extracted teeth, divided into four groups, were prepared with ProTaper rotary instruments before the root canals were filled by one of the four examined techniques. All groups were obturated using Sultan as a root canal sealer. Microleakage was measured 7 days, 1 month and 3 months after the procedures. There were no statistically significant differences between the four groups at any of examination points (P > 0.05). The leakage was increased in all obturation techniques over the 3-month period.

Dentine-pulp tissue engineering in miniature swine teeth by set calcium silicate containing bioactive molecules

OBJECTIVE The present study aims to investigate whether reparative dentinogenesis could be guided at central pulpal sites or at a distance from the amputated pulp of miniature pig teeth, by using set calcium silicate-based carriers containing human recombinant bioactive molecules. DESIGN Pulp exposures were performed in 72 permanent teeth of 4 healthy miniature swine. The teeth were capped with pre-manufactured implants of set calcium silicate-based material containing BMP-7, TGFβ1 or WnT-1, for 3 weeks. Conical-shaped intrapulpal implants were exposed in the central pulp core, while disc-shaped extrapulpal implants were placed at a distance from the amputated pulp. Implants without bioactive molecules were used as controls. Thickness and forms of new matrix mineralized deposition were assessed histologically at post-operative periods of 3 weeks by light microscopy. RESULTS Intrapulpal applications: Calcified structures composed of osteodentine were found in contact with the BMP-7 implants. An inhomogeneous calcified tissue matrix was found around the WnT-1 carriers. A two-zone calcified structure composed of osteodentine and a thicker tubular matrix zone was seen at the TGFβ1 carrier-pulp interface. Extrapulpal applications: The space between WnT-1 implants and pulp periphery had been invaded by soft tissue with traces of calcified foci. Thick calcified structures composed of osteodentine were found surrounding pulp exposure sites in response to application of BMP-7. Spindle-shaped cells associated with atubular calcified matrix or elongated polarized cells associated with tubular dentine-like matrix were found along the cut dentinal walls of the TGFβ1 group. CONCLUSION The present experiments indicated that set calcium silicate could be used as carrier for biologically active molecules. TGFβ1 was shown to be an effective bioactive molecule in guiding tertiary dentine formation.