Aim:The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcome of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or epoxy resin as a root canal sealer compared with zinc oxide eugenol sealer.Materials and Methods:45 single rooted teeth with periapical index Score 2 or more were allotted to three groups with 15 teeth in each group. Root canal treatment was performed in two visits and obturated with Gutta-percha as obturating material and zinc oxide eugenol as sealer in Group 1, epoxy resin as sealer in Group 2 and MTA mixed with propylene glycol as sealer in Group 3. Visual analog scale, periapical index and VixWin digital Pro image analysis software were used for evaluation. The quantitative data was analyzed by t-test and analysis of variance. Ordinal data was analyzed by Wilcoxon's signed rank test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis test.Results:Results suggested that there exists no statistically significant difference in clinical or radiological outcome of root canal therapy with three different types of sealers used in this study.Conclusions:MTA could be used as a root canal sealer with equal effectiveness compared with epoxy resin and zinc oxide eugenol sealers. Further long-term studies should be carried out to prove the effectiveness.

Background:Several disinfection techniques have been recently introduced with the main objective of improving root canal disinfection in the inaccessible areas of the root canal system. This in vitro study was done to evaluate the antimicrobial effect and viability of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms using conventional irrigation, EndoActivator (Dentsply, Tulsa Dental, USA), diode laser irradiation and photon-initiated photoacoustic streaming (PIPS).Materials and Methods:Root canals of 130 single rooted mandibular premolars, standardized to a uniform length of 20 mm were instrumented until finishing file, F1 (Universal Protaper Rotary System, Dentsply, Tulsa Dental Specialties, USA). After smear layer removal and sterilization, five teeth were randomly selected to assure sterility before bacterial inoculation. The remaining 125 samples were contaminated with E. faecalis suspension, incubated for 21 days and divided into five groups (n = 25). In Group 1; untreated group (positive control), the root canals were not subjected to any disinfection procedure. Sampling was performed within the canals and the colony-forming unit count was evaluated for 20 samples. Five samples were selected to visualize the pattern of colonization at Level 1 (4 mm from the apex) and Level 2 (1 mm from the apex) by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Samples in Groups 2-5 namely conventional needle irrigation, EndoActivator, diode laser and PIPS were subjected to their respective disinfection procedures. Postdisinfection sample evaluation criteria was followed for all groups as same as that for Group 1.Results:Diode laser displayed the highest antibacterial efficacy and least viable bacteria than the other three disinfection techniques.Conclusion:Diode laser group showed better antibacterial efficacy and least viable bacteria when compared to conventional needle irrigation, PIPS and EndoActivator groups in minimally instrumented, experimentally infected root canals.

Reattachment of the tooth fragment is an ultraconservative technique for managing coronal tooth fractures when the tooth fragment is available, and there is minimal violation of the biological width. The advances in adhesive dentistry have allowed dentists to use the patient's own fragment to restore the fractured tooth which provides fast and esthetically pleasing results. This article reports fragment reattachment technique and presents two clinical cases of complicated crown fracture.

No abstract

Background: Resin composites as direct posterior restorative material was associated with the polymerization contraction and microleakage. Different methods have been introduced to overcome these drawbacks by increasing the degree of monomer conversion and to minimize the polymerization shrinkage. Composite preheating is an innovative method to improve the handling and physical properties. So this study was done to evaluate the effect of prepolymerization warming of different composites on the marginal adaptation.  Materials and Methods: This in vitro study was conducted on 80 extracted human maxillary premolars. Class II cavities on the proximal surface were prepared with the dimensions of 4 mm buccolingual width, 2 mm axial depth, and gingival margin at the cementoenamel junction. They were divided into four groups of 20 teeth each and were restored accordingly: Group I – Bulkfill nanohybrid; Group II – Nanofill; Group III – Ormocer; Group IV – microhybrid composites. Each group was further sub - divided into subgroups of 10 teeth, according to the preheated composites and room temperature composites used. After restorative procedures, samples were sectioned in the mesiodistal direction through the centre of the restoration and analysed using Scanning Electron Microscope at 200x magnification and marginal gap width was measured in three areas at the axial wall using Image Processing and Analysis in Java (ImageJ 1.5 2a) software. Statistical Analysis: Data was entered in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 Software for Windows. The comparisons of four different composite materials with two subgroups were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis test. The level of significance was kept at   p < 0.05. Results: Preheating results in more gap formation with the bulk fill nanohybrid and Ormocer showed higher MQ4 scores than the room temperature composites. No statistically significant results were found. But the percentage of gap formation was comparatively higher in preheated composite group. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, it could be concluded that preheated composites showed poor internal marginal adaptation with increased frequency of gap formation. Key words: Internal marginal adaptation, Ormocer, Filtek nanofill, Microhybrid, Tetric bulk fill

Objective: To compare the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with Parapost, Everstick and Ribbond post systems. Materials and Methods: Root canal therapy was performed in 40 maxillary anteriors. The coronal portion of the teeth were sectioned at the junction of coronal and middle third of the crown and they were divided into four groups [n=10] .Group I served as a positive control. In group II, III and IV Parapost, Everstick and Ribbond were used respectively to restore the tooth. In group II the sectioned coronal fragment was reattached and in group III and IV core build up was done using composite. Specimens were loaded until failure in a universal testing machine and the resistance to fracture was calculated. Statistical Analysis: Datas were analysed using One Way ANOVA and Dunnett test. Results: Mean fracture resistance was as follows: Control – 393.0 N, Parapost – 238.0 N, Ribbond – 134.0 N, Everstick - 222N. The fracture strength of Parapost with reattached fracture fragment showed statistically significant fracture strength values when compared with Ribbond and Everstick where composite was used as a core build up material Keywords: Fracture resistance, Reattachment, Everstick, Ribbond, Parapost

No abstract

Fiber reinforced composites are bondable, biocompatible, aesthetic, translucent and easy-to-use in clinical practice. They have various applications in clinical dentistry due to their wide spectrum of intended properties. Composite is an better esthetic material which has an inherent problem of bulk fracture where cohesive failure occurs within the restorative material. When fibers are incorporated with composites they enhance the cohesive strength and thereby prevents bulk fracture.Some of the fibers which are commonly used in reconstruction procedures in operative dentistry and endodontics are polyethylene fibers, quartz glass fibers, carbon fibers and aramid fibers. This case report enumerates usage of Fiber reinforced composites as an endodontic post and cores material. It can be used as an alternative to conventional treatment in dentistry.