Search

Aim: This prospective clinical study evaluated the incidence of instrument fracture observed after single‐file root canal treatment of molars using WaveOne Gold instruments. Methodology: Three standardized, experienced and calibrated specialists treated 750 maxillary and mandibular molars with curvatures less than 45° (2691 root canals) over a 12‐month period. All the treatments were performed in a single session. A total of 1104 WaveOne Gold instruments were used, including 38 small, 750 primary, 228 medium and 88 large instruments. Intracanal procedures were performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and each instrument was used in a single clinical case. The instruments were examined after their removal from the canal, under an operating microscope at 8× magnification. Results: No fractures were observed in any of the 1104 instruments used. Conclusions: No fractures of WaveOne Gold reciprocating instruments occurred during root canal preparations performed in maxillary and mandibular molars with curvatures less than 45° when used strictly according to the manufacturer's recommendations and applied in a single clinical case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To compare the degree of fibre shedding by six brands of endodontic paper point when used for the paper point technique ( PPT) of working length confirmation. Methodology An in vitro model simulating the clinical use of paper points in PPT was used to assess the degree of fibre shedding of six brands of size 20, .02 taper paper point. Whilst observing the artificial terminal foramen with polarized light microscopy, the number of fibres shed directly (point inserted 1 mm beyond the terminal foramen) and indirectly (point inserted to length then a gutta-percha point inserted) was assessed. The degree of direct fibre shedding as a function of brand was analysed with Fisher's exact test and multiple pairwise comparisons. Indirect fibre shedding was analysed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Results All brands shed fibres both directly and indirectly, with a significant influence of brand on the proportion of fibres shed directly ( P < 0.0306) and on the mean number of fibres shed indirectly ( P < 0.0001). Post hoc analysis demonstrated a similar hierarchy of point integrity for both tests with Classic (UnoDent, Witham, UK) shedding significantly more than other brands and SS White (Gloucester, UK) and Antæos® ( VDW, Munich, Germany) shedding the least. Conclusion All brands of paper point may shed cellulose fibres both directly and indirectly with a significant influence of brand on the degree of fibre shedding. Further work should be undertaken to develop biocompatible absorbent dental points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To evaluate whether the presence of apical periodontitis ( AP), root canal treatment ( RCT) and endodontic burden ( EB) - as the sum of AP and RCT sites - were associated with long-term risk of incident cardiovascular events ( CVE), including cardiovascular-related mortality, using data on participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing ( BLSA). Methodology This retrospective cohort included 278 dentate participants in the BLSA with complete medical and dental examinations. Periodontal disease ( PD) and missing teeth were recorded. The total number of AP and RCT sites was determined from panoramic radiographs. EB was calculated as the sum of AP and RCT sites. Oral inflammatory burden ( OIB) was calculated combining PD and EB. The main outcome was incident CVE including angina, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular-related death. Participants were monitored for up to 44 years (mean = 17.4± 11.1 years) following dental examination. Relative risks ( RRs) were calculated through Poisson regression models, estimating the relationship between AP, RCT, EB, PD, OIB and incident CVE. Results Mean age at baseline was 55.0 ±16.8 years and 51.4% were men. Sixty-two participants (22.3%) developed CVE. Bivariate analysis showed that PD, EB, number of teeth and OIB were associated with incident CVE. Multivariate models, adjusted for socio-demographic and medical variables, showed that age ≥60 years ( RR = 3.07, 95% CI =1.68-5.62), hypertension ( RR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.16-3.46) and EB ≥3 ( RR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.04-3.02) were independently associated with incident CVE. The association between OIB and incident CVE was reduced to nonsignificance after adjustments ( RR = 1.97, 95% CI = 0.83-4.70). Conclusions EB in midlife was an independent predictor of CVE amongst community-dwelling participants in the BLSA. Prospective studies are required to evaluate cardiovascular risk reduction with the treatment of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]