Daniel Guimarães Pedro Rocha

Study of the bismuth oxide concentration required to provide Portland cement with adequate radiopacity for endodontic use.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the ideal concentration of bismuth oxide in white Portland cement to provide it with sufficient radiopacity for use as an endodontic material (ADA specification #57). STUDY DESIGN 2-mm thick standardized test specimens of white MTA and of white Portland cement, as controls, and of white Portland cement with the experimental addition of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% or 30% of bismuth oxide were radiographed and compared with various thicknesses of pure aluminum, using optic density to determine the observed grayscale levels of radiopacity in a scale ranging from 0 to 255. The data was submitted to ANOVA (p<0.05) and the Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welch and Quiot test (REGWQ) for multiple comparison of the means. RESULTS White Portland cement with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of bismuth oxide presented mean readings of 63.3, 95.7, 110.7, 142.7, 151.3, 161.0 and 180.0 respectively. MTA presented a mean reading of 157.3. The readings of MTA and white Portland cement with 15% bismuth oxide did not differ significantly from the reading observed for a thickness of 4 mm of aluminum (145.3), which is considered ideal for a test specimen by ADA specification #57 (2 mm above the thickness of the test specimen). CONCLUSION White MTA and white Portland cement with 15% bismuth oxide presented the radiopacity required for an endodontic cement.

Fracture Incidence of WaveOne and Reciproc Files during Root Canal Preparation of up to 3 Posterior Teeth: A Prospective Clinical Study

Introduction: Reciprocating instruments were developed to improve and simplify the preparation of the root canal system by allowing greater centralization of the canal and requiring a shorter learning curve. Despite the risk of instrument separation, using a reciprocating instrument in more than 1 case is a relatively common clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of Reciproc (R25; VDW, Munich, Germany) and WaveOne (Primary; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) instruments according to the number of uses during the preparation of root canals in up to 3 posterior teeth. Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted by 3 experienced specialists who performed treatment of 358 posterior teeth (1130 canals) over a period of 12 months using 120 reciprocating instruments, 60 of which were Reciproc R25 and 60 were WaveOne Primary. The motion used during instrumentation followed the recommendations of the respective manufacturers. After each use, the instruments were observed under a dental operating microscope at 8× magnification. In the case of fracture or deformation, the instrument was discarded. Results: None of the instruments showed any signs of deformation, but 3 instruments fractured (0.26% of the number of canals and 0.84% of the number of teeth). All fractures occurred in mandibular molars (1 WaveOne Primary file during the third use and 2 Reciproc R25 files, 1 during the first use and the other during the third use). Conclusions: There was a low incidence of fracture when reciprocating files were used in up to 3 cases of endodontic treatment in posterior teeth. HIGHLIGHTSReuse of reciprocating instruments in up to 3 cases of posterior teeth showed a low incidence of fracture.This fracture rate was comparable with that observed in previous studies on single‐use reciprocating instruments.This low instrument fracture rate was observed even though no cervical preflaring was performed.

Comparative Analysis of Dentinal Erosion after Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation versus Irrigation with Reciprocating Activation: An Environmental Scanning Electron Study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess ex vivo the erosive effects of passive ultrasonic irrigation versus irrigation with reciprocating activation on the dentinal surface of the root canal at 3 predetermined levels using environmental scanning electron microscopy. Methods: Ten roots of mandibular premolars were prepared using the ProTaper Universal system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). The specimens were embedded in flasks cleaved longitudinally, and indentations were made 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 mm from the apex. The specimens in the control group (n = 10) were cleaned in an ultrasonic bath containing 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA and then dried. Then, environmental scanning electron microscopic images were obtained at magnification × 800. The specimens were then reassembled in their flasks, and the NaOCl and EDTA solutions were activated according to the conditions established for the experimental groups (ie, the passive ultrasonic irrigation group [n = 5] and the EasyClean (Easy Equipamentos Odontológicos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil) group, irrigation with reciprocating activation with the EasyClean instrument [n = 5]). The specimens of both experimental groups were analyzed in the same manner as in the control group. Analysis of the dentinal surface topography was conducted using the 3D Roughness Reconstruction program (Phenom‐World BV, Eindhoven, the Netherlands) as a means for assessing erosion. The data were evaluated by means of the Kruskal‐Wallis, Student‐Newman‐Keuls, and Mann‐Whitney tests. Results: In the EasyClean group, the degree of dentinal erosion at 3.0 mm was significantly higher than at 9.0 mm. In the other comparisons, there was no statistically significant difference (P < .05). Conclusions: The final irrigation techniques tested were equivalent in relation to the degree of erosion caused to the dentinal surface. Highlights:Numerous methods and techniques have been developed to assess the erosion produced on dentinal walls by irrigation systems.Evaluation of the effect of an innovative irrigation system with reciprocating activation (EasyClean) on dentinal erosion.Demonstration of a new method of quantitative analysis of dentinal erosion by means of environmental scanning electron microscopy associated with specific software (3D Roughness Reconstruction).

Comparação entre os sistemas rotatórios Pathfile + Protaper Universal e Twisted Files quanto à preservação da morfologia e ao tempo de trabalho despendido na preparação de canais curvos

INTRODUCTION: Nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments reduce procedural errors and the time required for root canal preparation. The aim of this study was to compare two rotary NiTi instrumentation systems-Pathfile + ProTaper Universal versus Twisted Files-as to their ability to maintain original canal morphology and the time they require to prepare curved root canals. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The mesial canals of 32 human mandibular molars (with curvature angles between 20 and 40 degrees) were selected for the study, and divided at random into two groups of 16 canals each. The canals were prepared by an endodontist using either the combination of Pathfile and ProTaper Universal instruments (Group PT) or Twisted Files (Group TF). The double digital radiograph technique, pre- and post-instrumentation, was used by three endodontists to assess whether apical transportation and/or aberration in root canal morphology occurred. The initial and final images of the root canals were compared by superimposition through computerized analysis and with the aid of magnification. The odds ratio test was used to compare root canal morphology preservation, and ANOVA complemented by Tukeys test was used to compare preparation times. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULT: Deviation in root canal trajectory occurred in both groups, although the differences were not significant. The preparation time required by the Pathfile + ProTaper Universal combination was significantly longer than that required by the Twisted Files system. CONCLUSION: Both systems showed similar performances regarding the ability to maintain original root canal morphology; however, the preparation time required by the Twisted Files system was shorter

Smear Layer Removal Efficacy of Two Activated Irrigation Techniques After Reciprocating Instrumentation in Curved Canals

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two activated irrigation techniques in removing the smear layer after single-file reciprocating instrumentation in curved canals. Materials and Methods: Sixty distobuccal roots of maxillary molars were standardized to create a closed system, and then instrumented using WaveOne Primary (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) instruments. Fifty-four specimens were randomly distributed into 3 groups for final irrigation: Non-activated irrigation, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and EndoActivator (EA;Dentsply Maillefer, Tulsa, USA) irrigation. All specimens received 3 mL of 17% EDTA for 1 minute, followed by irrigation with 6 mL of 2.5% NaOCl. The apical, middle and cervical thirds of the specimens were analyzed using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and the amount of remaining smear layer on the canal walls was rated by three examiners using a five-category scoring system. Kendall’s concordance coefficient was used to assess inter-rater agreement. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (Bonferroni) tests were used to compare the scores. Results: Kendall’s concordance coefficient was ≥ 0.7, indicating an excellent level of agreement between the raters. No statistically significant difference in irrigation techniques efficacy for removal of the smear layer (p=0.061) was found for the apical third. The scores attributed to the specimens irrigated with the EA system were significantly lower than those of the other groups in the cervical and middle thirds (p< 0.05). Conclusions: The efficacy of the EA system in removing the smear layer in the cervical and middle thirds of root canals instrumented with reciprocating motion was significantly higher than that of either PUI or non-activated irrigation. Both EA and PUI performed similarly in apical third.

In vivo assessment of accuracy of Propex II, Root ZX II, and radiographic measurements for location of the major foramen

Objectives The aim of this in vivo study was to assess the accuracy of 2 third-generation electronic apex locators (EALs), Propex II (Dentsply Maillefer) and Root ZX II (J. Morita), and radiographic technique for locating the major foramen (MF). Materials and Methods Thirty-two premolars with single canals that required extraction were included. Following anesthesia, access, and initial canal preparation with size 10 and 15 K-flex files and SX and S1 rotary ProTaper files, the canals were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. The length of the root canal was verified 3 times for each tooth using the 2 apex locators and once using the radiographic technique. Teeth were extracted and the actual WL was determined using size 15 K-files under a × 25 magnification. The Biostat 4.0 program (AnalystSoft Inc.) was used for comparing the direct measurements with those obtained using radiographic technique and the apex locators. Pearsons correlation analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analyses. Results The measurements obtained using the visual method exhibited the strongest correlation with Root ZX II (r = 0.94), followed by Propex II (r = 0.90) and Ingles technique (r = 0.81; p < 0.001). Descriptive statistics using ANOVA (Tukeys post hoc test) revealed significant differences between the radiographic measurements and both EALs measurements (p < 0.05). Conclusions Both EALs presented similar accuracy that was higher than that of the radiographic measurements obtained with Ingles technique. Our results suggest that the use of these EALs for MF location is more accurate than the use of radiographic measurements.