Claudia Medianeira Londero Pagliarin

Accuracy of working length determination using 3 electronic apex locators and direct digital radiography.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of working length determination using 3 electronic apex locators and direct digital radiography and to compare the results with those obtained using the visual method (control measurement). STUDY DESIGN Twenty extracted human maxillary premolars were selected: 17 two-rooted and 3 single-rooted (total of 37 canals). Working length was measured using electronic apex locators Elements Diagnostic, Root ZX, and Just II. Subsequently, teeth were positioned in the alveolar bone of a dry skull and submitted to direct digital radiography. A variation of ±1 mm was considered as acceptable. Results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon and the χ(2) tests. RESULTS Results presented an accuracy of 94.6% for Elements Diagnostic, 91.9% for Root ZX, 73.0% for Just II, and 64.9% for direct digital radiography when considering the margin of ±1 mm in relation to the control measurement. Comparisons with the actual control measurements resulted in accuracy results of 13.51%, 13.51%, 10.10%, and 2.70%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Root ZX and Elements Diagnostic are more accurate in determining working length when compared with Just II and Schick direct digital radiography.

Tissue characterization following revascularization of immature dog teeth using different disinfection pastes

Revascularization of immature teeth with necrotic pulps traditionally involves the use of triple antibiotic paste, which may sometimes lead to undesirable complications. The objective of this study was to assess tissue repair in immature dog teeth with apical periodontitis subjected to revascularization, comparing two different pastes used for root canal disinfection. Apical periodontitis was induced in 30 dog premolars. Teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups: root canals filled with triple antibiotic paste (n = 10); root canals filled with 1% propolis paste (n = 10); and no medication (n = 10). An additional group (n = 10, no intervention) was used as control. After 7 months, the jaws were histologically evaluated for the following variables: newly formed mineralized tissue (present/absent); vital tissue in the canal space (absent/periodontal ligament-like/pulp-like); apical extension of root (present/absent); and severity of inflammatory process (absent/mild/moderate/severe). There were no statistically significant differences among the experimental groups in new mineralized tissue formation and apical root development. The formation of vital tissue in the canal space, in turn, was statistically different between the triple paste and propolis groups: vital tissues were present in all revascularized teeth disinfected with propolis paste (100%), compared to 71% of those disinfected with the triple paste. Severity of inflammatory process was different between the triple paste and no medication groups. The new tissues formed onto canal walls and in the root canal space showed characteristics of cementum and periodontal ligament, respectively. Propolis may have some advantages over the triple paste for the revascularization of immature teeth.

APICIFICAÇÃO DE INCISIVOS CENTRAIS SUPERIORES USANDO HIDRÓXIDO DE CÁLCIO: RELATO DE CASO

Quando ocorre a necrose pulpar em dentes permanentes com apice incompleto, ha necessidade de induzir o desenvolvimento radicular com a finalidade de criar uma barreira de tecido mineralizado no terco apical facilitando posteriormente a obturacao definitiva do canal radicular. Esta tecnica e denominada de apicificacao. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever um tratamento bem sucedido de apicificacao nos dentes 11 e 21 que sofreram necrose pulpar apos a ocorrencia de um trauma.