Maria Nadir Gasparoto Mancini

Smear Layer Removal by Auxiliary Chemical Substances in Biomechanical Preparation: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study

The aim of this study was to assess, by scanning electron microscopy analysis, the cleaning ability of irrigants and auxiliary chemical substances in biomechanical preparation. Thirty-two single-rooted human teeth were subjected to standardized root canal instrumentation with different irrigants (n = 8): group 1, 2.5% NaOCl + 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); group 2, 2% chlorhexidine gel + 17% EDTA; group 3, Canal Plus + 2.5% NaOCl; group 4, saline + 17% EDTA. After instrumentation, the teeth were prepared for scanning electron microscopy analysis (2000x) to evaluate the cleaning of cervical, middle, and apical thirds. The area analyzed was quantified according to the percentage of open tubules, and data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey tests (P = .05). The results showed statistically significant difference with higher quantity of open tubules in groups 1 and 3. In all groups, the cleaning obtained on the cervical third was better than that obtained on the middle and apical thirds, with statistically significant difference in the chlorhexidine group. Irrigation with Canal Plus in combination with NaOCl and NaOCl followed by EDTA produced greater cleaning of the root canal walls.

Influence of simvastatin on bone regeneration of tibial defects and blood cholesterol level in rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of simvastatin, by oral or subcutaneous administration, on tibial defects regeneration and blood cholesterol level in rats. A surgical defect was made on the right tibia of 40 male animals assigned to 4 groups (n=10), based on two routes of administration and on the use or not of simvastatin: subcutaneous injection of simvastatin (7 mg/kg) (group AT) or only the vehicle of drug suspension (group AC), above the defect area, for 5 days; and 20 mg/kg of simvastatin macerated on water (group BT) or only water (group BC), orally, daily, during the whole observation period. The animals were sacrificed after 15 or 30 days, when blood samples were analyzed to check plasma cholesterol levels. Tibiae were removed and, after decalcification and routine laboratorial processing, histological and histomorphometrical analyses were carried out. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis at 5% significance level. The histological and histomorphometrical analyses showed significant differences only between the experimental periods (p<0.05). Animals sacrificed after 30 days showed better bone repair (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) for blood cholesterol levels between the groups. In conclusion, simvastatin administration either orally or subcutaneously did not improve bone repair of experimental tibial defects and did not alter blood cholesterol levels in rats.

Ex vivo evaluation of the effectiveness of bleaching agents on the shade alteration of blood-stained teeth

AIM To evaluate ex vivo effectiveness of the three formulations of bleaching materials for intracoronal bleaching of root filled teeth using the walking bleach technique. METHODOLOGY Extracted premolar teeth were stained artificially with human blood. After biomechanical preparation, the root canals were filled and a 3-mm thick intermediate base of zinc phosphate cement was placed at the level of the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were divided into four groups (n = 12): C (control, without bleaching material), A1 (sodium perborate + distilled water), A2 (sodium perborate + 10% carbamide peroxide) and A3 (sodium perborate + 35% carbamide peroxide). The bleaching materials were changed at 7 and 14 days. Evaluation of shade was undertaken with aid of the VITA Easyshadetrade mark (DeltaE*ab) and was performed after tooth staining and at 7, 14 and 21 days after bleaching, based on the CIELAB system. Data were analysed by anova for repeated measurements, Tukey and Dunnett tests (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS The Tukey test revealed that group A1 (10.58 +/- 4.83 DeltaE*ab) was statistically different from the others (A2, 19.57 +/- 4.72 DeltaE*ab and A3, 17.58 +/- 3.33 DeltaE*ab), which were not different from each other. At 7 days: A1 was significantly different from A2; at 14 and 21 days: A2 and A3 were significantly better than A1; the Dunnett test revealed that the control group was different from A1, A2 and A3 at all periods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Sodium perborate associated with both 10% and 35% carbamide peroxide was more effective than when associated with distilled water.

In vitro evaluation of apical sealing in root apex treated with demineralization agents and retrofiled with mineral trioxide aggregate through marginal dye leakage.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical seal in root apex treated with different demineralization agents and retrofilled with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) using marginal dye leakage. Fifty-six, human single-rooted teeth were instrumented, filled, resected and had retrofilling cavities prepared with ultrasonic tips. Demineralizing agents were applied before the apical cavities were retrofilled with Pro Root MTA. The specimens were assigned to 4 groups (n=14), as follows: group 1 (no demineralizing agent); group 2 (35% phosphoric acid, for 15 s); group 3 (17% EDTA solution, pH 7, for 3 min); and group 4 (24% EDTA gel, pH 7, for 4 min). The extension of dye (2% rhodamine B, at 37 degrees C, for 24 h) penetration was measured in millimeters using a stereomicroscope. Results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukeys test at 5% significance level. Among the experimental groups, the least extension of dye penetration was observed in group 1 (1.89 mm), followed by groups 2 (2.18 mm), 4 (2.54 mm) and 3 (2.64 mm). No statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found in marginal microleakage among groups 1, 2 and 4 and groups 2, 3 and 4. Based on the results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that the application of demineralizing agents cannot be recommended when MTA is used in periradicular surgeries.

Antioxidants and biomarkers of oxidative damage in the saliva of patients with Down's syndrome

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems and levels of biomarker levels of oxidative damage in the saliva of patients with Downs syndrome (DS). METHODS Saliva samples were collected from 30 patients with DS and control group (age: 14-24 years). Subsequently, the concentrations of superoxide dismutase, concentration of malondialdehyde, carbonylated proteins, uric acid, vitamin C and total protein, peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed. RESULTS Patients with DS presented significantly higher concentrations of superoxide dismutase, higher levels of malondialdehyde and salivary total protein content than controls (p<0.05). Conversely, no difference in carbonylated proteins or antioxidants (uric acid, vitamin C, peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity) was observed between DS patients and controls (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with DS are more vulnerable to oxidative stress in saliva as indicated by the significant increase in malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase concentrations found in this study.

The effect of endodontic materials on the optical density of dyes used in marginal leakage studies

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the exposure of different endodontic materials to different dye solutions by evaluating the optical density of the dye solutions. Seventy-five plastic tubes were filled with one of the following materials: AH Plus, Sealapex, Portland cement, MTA (Angelus and Pro Root) and fifteen control plastic tubes were not. Each specimen of material and control was immersed in a container with 1 ml of each dye solution. A 0.1 ml-dye solution aliquote was removed before immersion and after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of each specimen immersion to record its optical density (OD) in a spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and Tukey tests (5%). No significant difference was found among any of the solution OD values for AH Plus cement. Portland cement promoted different OD values after 12 hours of immersion. MTA-Angelus cement presented different OD values only for 2% rhodamine B and the MTA-Pro Root cement presented different OD values in all 2% rhodamine B samples. Sealapex cement promoted a reduction in the India Ink OD values. Dye evaluation through OD seems to be an interesting method to select the best dye solution to use in a given marginal leakage study.