Zoran Karlović

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Peripical Tissue Exudates of Teeth with Apical Periodontitis

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in periapical exudates and to evaluate their relationship with radiological findings. Methodology. Periapical exudates were collected from root canals of 60 single-rooted teeth using absorbent paper points. TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The samples were divided into three groups according to the periapical radiolucent area. Results. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between TNF-α concentrations in control group (40, 57±28, 15 pg/mL) and group with larger radiolucent areas (2365, 79±582, 95 pg/mL), as well as between control and canals with small radiolucent areas (507, 66±278, 97) (P<.05). Conclusions. The levels of TNF-α increase significantly in teeth with periapical pathosis, from smaller to bigger lesions. This research and its results have shown that objective analysis of the TNF-α levels enables establishment of a relationship between different concentrations of TNF-α and different radiological changes.

Influence of calcium hydroxide root-canal sealer on microbial growth in vitro

The calcium hydroxide-based filling material Apexit, which is often used in endodontic practice, was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal effects against microorganisms isolated from oral cavity (Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans). Two different quantitative techniques were employed—the direct-contact test was used to examine the efficacy of freshly mixed material while the broth-survival test was employed to check the antimicrobial properties of 5-d-old material. Apexit inhibited Gram-negative bacteria more effectively than Gram-positive ones but had none or a very weak inhibitory effect onC. albicans.

Developmental Deffects of Enamel in Children with Intellectual Disability

OBJECTIVES To investigate the frequency of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in children with intellectual disability. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Children aged 5-18 years (72 children with intellectual disabilities and 72 controls) were included in the study. All the teeth were screened for developmental defects of enamel using the modified Developmental defects of enamel (mDDE) index. RESULTS Out of the 72 children with intellectual disabilities in this study, 20 (27.78%) presented dental defects of enamel, compared with 8 (11.11%) of those in the control group, which was considered statistically significant (p = 0.021). The majority of children in both groups had white demarcated opacities. Children in both groups were more likely to have maxillary teeth affected than the mandibular teeth and the asymmetrical demarcated enamel defects were more common than the symmetric ones. Majority of opacities in children in both groups were on the maxillary incisors. CONCLUSIONS Children with intellectual disabilities have more developmental defects of enamel than children in the control group. Enamel defects increase caries risk and cause reduction in enamel mechanical properties leading to restoration failures.

In vitro assessment of the accuracy of three electronic apex locators

Aim of this in vitro study was to compare accuracy of three electronic apex locators (EALs) (ES-02, ES-03 and ProPex) in root canals of extracted human teeth utilizing two meter readings and different conditions of root canals (RC). RC lengths of 46 single-rooted teeth were visually determined using a K-file # 15. Teeth and labial connector were then embedded in alginate. Two sets of measurements were performed for each device - root canal condition combination (dry root canal, 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA, RC prep, Glyde) according to readings “-0.5” and “0.0”. The differences were evaluated using descriptive and nonparametric statistics. The mean difference between real and measured values at meter reading “0.0” was 0.10 mm with ProPex, 0.31 mm with ES-02 and 0.71 mm with ES-03. At meter reading “-0.5“ that difference was 0.28 mm with ProPex, 0.41 mm with ES-02 and 0.87 mm with ES-03. In vitro testing showed ProPex to be the most accurate EAL in most of combinations, followed by ES-02, and ES-03 (p<0.05). Most accurate measurements were performed in canal conditions as follows: dry canals, Glyde, Rc-Prep, NaOCl and EDTA solutions (p<0.05). ProPex was the most accurate at meter reading “0.0”. At reading “-0.5” ES-02 and ProPex were equal, whereas ES-03 was the least accurate. All tested EALs should be used with meter reading “0.0” as a reference because it is more accurate than using the meter reading “-0.5” (p<0.001).