The aim of this study is to evaluate the fracture resistance of root-filled teeth restored with fibre-reinforced composite (everX posterior). Fifty mandibular molars were divided into five groups (n = 10). Group 1: no treatment was applied (intact teeth). Group 2-5: canals were prepared and root filled. Group 2: no coronal restoration was placed. Group 3: teeth were coronally restored with composite. Group 4: composite restorations were performed following polyethylene fibre insertion at the cavity base. Group 5: composite resin placed over everX posterior. After thermocycling (5-55°C, 5000×), fracture resistance was measured. Mean force load for each sample was recorded in Newtons (N). Results were statistically analysed with one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey's tests. The mean force required to fracture samples and standard deviations are as follows: group 1: 2859.5 ± 551.27 N, group 2: 318.97 ± 108.67 N, group 3: 1489.5 ± 505.04 N, group 4: 1958.3 ± 362.94 N, group 5: 2550.7 ± 586.1 N. everX posterior (group 5) was higher than groups 2, 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between everX posterior and intact teeth (P > 0.05). Placing fibre-reinforced composite under composite increased the fracture strength of root-filled teeth to the level of intact teeth.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different finishing-polishing techniques on the color stability and surface roughness of various anterior restorative materials after staining. A composite, a compomer, and a resin-modified glass ionomer were used to prepare 120 specimens. Specimens were divided into subgroups: polishing discs, liquid polishing material, aluminium oxidebonded discs, and control. The specimens were stained in a coffee solution. Color parameters (L*a*b*) and surface roughness before and after staining were measured. The color was affected by the material type (p<0.05) and finishing-polishing systems (p<0.05). The composite showed the highest color stability; however, the color differences of all groups were visible even to the nonskilled operator.The Ra values did not significantly change after staining for any of the restorative groups (p>0.05). The finishing-polishing systems had an effect on color after storing in staining solution.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of PDT and the effect of different irradiation durations on the antimicrobial efficiency of PDT.Materials and Methods:Sixty freshly extracted human teeth with a single root were decoronated and distributed into five groups. The control group received no treatment. Group 1 was treated with a 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with methylene-blue photosensitizer and 660-nm diode laser irradiation for 1, 2, and 4 min, respectively. The root canals were instrumented and irrigated with NaOCl, ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid, and a saline solution, followed by autoclaving. All the roots were inoculated with an Enterococcus faecalis suspension and brain heart infusion broth and stored for 21 days to allow biofilm formation. Microbiological data on microorganism load were collected before and after the disinfection procedures and analyzed with the Wilcoxon ranged test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Dunn's test.Results:The microorganism load in the control group increased. The lowest reduction in the microorganism load was observed in the 1-min irradiation group (Group 2 = 99.8%), which was very close to the results of the other experimental groups (99.9%). There were no significant differences among the groups.Conclusions:PDT is as effective as conventional 5% NaOCl irrigation with regard to antimicrobial efficiency against Enterococcus faecalis.

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Objectives:The aim of this study was to conduct age estimates for dental patients using orthopantomographs (OPGs). The OPGs were selected by an independent author with respect to criteria and evaluated by two independent dentists. The results were compared to chronologic ages. The reliability of the estimates, concurrently made by the two independent dentists using OPGs, was also evaluated.Methods:In this retrospective study, the OPGs of 238 Turkish individuals of known chronological age, ranging from 1 to 60 years, were measured. Patients were then classified. Radiographs were evaluated by two independent dentists and age estimation was achieved according to the decades.Results:The truest age estimates made by the dentists were in the 1–10 years age range (89.6%), the most inaccurate age estimates were in the 41–50 years age range (41.7%). Results indicate that the accuracy of age estimation diminishes with age.Conclusions:Despite the variations related to the practitioners, in this study, there were no significant differences in age estimations between the two participant practitioners. Age estimation through evaluating OPGs was the most accurate in the first decade and the least in fourth decade. It can be concluded that OPGs are not adequate for accurate age estimation.