Karl F. Woodmansey

Clinical Outcome of Endodontic Microsurgery That Uses EndoSequence BC Root Repair Material as the Root-end Filling Material

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical and radiographic outcome of root-end surgery when EndoSequence BC Root Repair (ES-BCRR) was used as the root-end filling material and to identify any possible prognostic factors that may have affected the healing outcome. METHODS Clinical records and periapical radiographs were collected from patients who had undergone endodontic microsurgery between 2009 and 2013 in a private endodontic office and had a minimum 1-year follow-up. All surgical procedures were performed by a single endodontist. ES-BCRR was used as the root-end filling material in all cases. Outcome was categorized into healed, healing, and non-healing on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings. The healed and healing cases were pooled and considered as success, and non-healing cases were considered failure. For statistical analysis of the prognostic factors, the dependent variable was the dichotomous outcome (ie, success versus failure). RESULTS Ninety-four patients with 113 teeth met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The overall success rate was 92.0%. None of the prognostic factors, including age, sex, tooth position, size of periapical radiolucency, presence of a sinus tract, preoperative symptoms, and retreatment previous to surgery, appeared to have any significant effects on the outcome (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS This current study suggests that ES-BCRR is a suitable root-end filling material to be used in endodontic surgery.

Evaluation of compressive strength of hydraulic silicate-based root-end filling materials.

INTRODUCTION Hydraulic silicate cements such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) have many clinical advantages. Newer hydraulic silicate materials have been developed that improve on the limitations of mineral trioxide aggregate such as the long setting time and difficult handling characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of saline and fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the setting and compressive strength of the following hydraulic silicate cements: ProRoot MTA (white WMTA; Dentsply International, Tulsa Dental Specialties, Johnson City, TN), EndoSequence Root Repair Material (Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA), MTA Plus (MTAP; Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL), and QuickSet (QS; Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL). METHODS Samples of root-end filling materials were compacted into polyethylene molds. Samples were exposed to FBS or saline for 7 days. A universal testing machine was used to determine the compressive strengths. RESULTS QS had significantly lower compressive strength than all other materials (P < .001). White MTA and MTAP mixed with liquid had lower compressive strengths after exposure to FBS compared with saline (P = .003). ERRM, MTAP mixed with gel, and QS were not affected by the exposure to FBS. CONCLUSIONS New silicate-based root-end filling materials, other than QS, have compressive strength similar to MTA. Within the limits of this study, premixed materials and those mixed with antiwashout gel maintain their compressive strength when exposed to biological fluids.

The Effect of Obturation Technique on the Push-out Bond Strength of Calcium Silicate Sealers

INTRODUCTION Calcium silicate-based sealers are known to have excellent sealing ability and bioactivities. They are typically recommended to be used in a single-cone (SC) technique. No studies have evaluated the effects of the thermoplastic obturation technique on the dentin interface of these sealers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the push-out bond strengths of MTA Plus Sealer (Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL) and EndoSequence BC Sealer (BC; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) when they were used in a thermoplastic technique. METHODS Fifty single-rooted human extracted teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10), instrumented, and obturated with the SC technique or continuous wave (CW) technique: group 1, BC-SC; group 2, BC-CW; group 3, MTA Plus-SC; group 4, MTA Plus-CW; and group 5, AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany)-CW. The roots were sectioned into 1.0-mm-thick slices, and bond strengths were measured using a standardized push-out test. The mode of failure was determined by visual inspection under magnification. RESULTS The MTA Plus-CW had statistically significant lower bond strengths than all other groups. The BC-SC group had statistically higher bond strengths than the MTA Plus-SC and AH Plus-CW groups. No significant differences were seen among the other groups. Modes of failure were predominately cohesive or mixed except for group 4 (ie, MTA Plus-CW) in which nearly half the specimens had no visible sealer. CONCLUSIONS BC and MTA Plus sealer showed favorable bond strengths when used in an SC technique. The CW obturation technique decreased the bond strengths of these sealers.

Comparison of Quick-Set and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Root-end Fillings for the Regeneration of Apical Tissues in Dogs

INTRODUCTION Quick-Set (Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL) is a calcium aluminosilicate cement that is a potential alternative to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with greater acid resistance and faster setting. The purpose of this study was to compare the regeneration of apical tissues after root-end surgery when the apical tissues were exposed to Quick-Set or White ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK) by root-end resection. METHODS The root canals of 42 mandibular premolars in 7 beagle dogs were accessed, cleaned and shaped, and obturated with Quick-Set or white MTA. Osteotomies and root-end resections were performed immediately. The dogs were sacrificed at 90 days, and the teeth and surrounding tissues were removed and prepared for histologic analysis. The sections of the apical areas were scored for inflammation, new cementum formation, periodontal ligament formation, and bone quality. RESULTS At 90 days, both materials supported some degree of cementum formation on the surface of the material, periodontal ligament regeneration, and excellent bone quality. The only significant difference was greater inflammation found in the Quick-Set group. CONCLUSIONS Quick-Set and White ProRoot MTA had a similar effect on bone quality, cementum formation, and periodontal ligament formation after root-end surgery in dogs. Quick-Set was associated with greater inflammation.

Capping a Pulpotomy with Calcium Aluminosilicate Cement: Comparison to Mineral Trioxide Aggregates

INTRODUCTION Calcium aluminate cements have shown little affinity for bacterial growth, low toxicity, and immunogenicity when used as a restoration material, but calcium aluminate cements have not been tested in vivo in pulpotomy procedures. METHODS To address this question, a calcium aluminosilicate cement (Quick-Set) was tested along with 2 mineral trioxide aggregates, ProRoot MTA and MTA Plus. These cements were used as a capping agent after pulpotomy. Control rats had no pulpotomy, or the pulpotomy was not capped. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-1α were measured, and histology was performed at 30 and 60 days after capping. The nociceptive response was determined by measuring the lengthening of the rats meal duration. RESULTS and CONCLUSIONS IL-1β and IL-1α concentrations were reduced in the capped teeth, but no differences were observed among the 3 cements. Dentinal bridging could be detected at both 30 and 60 days with each of the 3 cements, and the pulps were still vital 60 days after capping. Meal duration significantly shortened after placement of the 3 different cements, indicating a nociceptive response, but there were no differences among the materials. Calcium aluminosilicate cement had similar properties to mineral trioxide aggregates and is a viable option for pulpotomy procedures.

Readability of educational materials for endodontic patients.

INTRODUCTION Vocabulary and writing style have been shown to affect the readability of patient-education materials. Readability is generally defined as the ease of understanding or comprehension because of the style of writing. Microsoft Word software (Microsoft Corporation, Bellevue, WA) can quantify and report readability statistics, providing both the Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score of selected documents. METHODS This study evaluated the readability of 22 endodontic patient education web sites and 15 endodontic patient education brochures. The web sites and brochures were arbitrarily selected based on availability, reputation of the source, and relevance to endodontic patients. RESULTS The Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score were determined for the 37 selected materials. The Flesch Reading Ease scores varied between 44.4 and 76.6, and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores ranged between 4.5 and 10.6. CONCLUSIONS These findings remind practitioners that some patients may have difficulty reading some endodontic educational materials.

Comparative Analysis of Calcium Silicate-based Root Filling Materials Using an Open Apex Model

INTRODUCTION Many new calcium silicate-based root filling materials have emerged in the market; however, their performance in the orthograde obturation of an open apex has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal adaptation of ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK), NeoMTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc, Bradenton, FL), and Endosequence BC RRM-Fast Set Putty (BC RRM-FS; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA) after orthograde placement in roots with open apices. METHODS Palatal roots of maxillary molars were instrumented to create divergent open apices and divided into 4 groups for orthograde obturation: ProRoot MTA, NeoMTA Plus, BC RRM-FS, and BC RRM-FS + BC Sealer. Using a scanning electron microscope, the quality of material adaptation at the anatomic apex was evaluated by 5 blinded examiners; 3 mm of the root end was sectioned, and gap distance was measured at the material-dentin interface. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS There were no significant differences in marginal adaptation among the 4 groups at the level of the anatomic apex (P = .175). BC RRM-FS + BC Sealer had a significantly smaller gap size after 3-mm root end resection compared with the other 3 groups (P < .01). No differences were observed among the other 3 materials. CONCLUSIONS All materials showed comparable marginal adaptation at the anatomic apex when used for orthograde obturation of open apices. Application of BC Sealer before the delivery of BC RRM-FS Putty enhanced the quality of adaptation coronal to the apex.

Osteonecrosis Related to Intraosseous Anesthesia: Report of a Case

Intraosseous anesthesia is an effective and increasingly used technique with few reported complications. The technique uses a specialized drill to perforate the osseous cortex where local anesthetic can then be deposited to anesthetize teeth. It has been reported that separation of the perforation drills from their plastic bases can occur because of the friction generated during osseous perforation. Prolonged rotation of the perforator drills in the bone can also cause excessive heat, which can lead to bone necrosis. This report describes a case of focal osteonecrosis subsequent to intraosseous anesthesia and discusses possible etiologies of this sequela.

Long-term Clinical Outcome of Teeth Obturated with Resilon

Introduction Although Resilon has been in clinical use as an endodontic obturation material for more than a decade, there is a lack of long‐term clinical outcome studies. The purpose of this retrospective case‐control study was to compare long‐term clinical outcomes in teeth obturated with Resilon/RealSeal SE (RS) and GP/AH Plus (GP). Methods One hundred teeth treated at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry between 2007 and 2012 were included; 50 teeth were obturated with RS and 50 with GP. All cases were initial treatments without preoperative periapical radiolucencies. Success and failure were assessed on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and/or the presence of periapical radiolucency. Chi‐square test and odds ratio were used to determine the association between the obturation material and outcome. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated including age, sex, tooth location, preoperative diagnosis, and one versus multiple visits. Results The average recall time for RS was 5.8 years and 6.6 years for GP. Fifty‐six percent of RS‐obturated teeth were classified as successful at recall compared with 88% of GP‐obturated teeth. RS had 5.7 times greater odds of failure compared with GP (P < .001). When periapical radiolucencies were present, they tended to be larger and involve multiple roots in the RS group compared with GP group. None of the prognostic factors examined were found to have any significant effect on outcome. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, teeth obturated with RS had 5.7 times greater chance of failure compared with teeth obturated with GP.