Aim To compare the educational outcomes using artificial teeth versus extracted teeth for pre‐clinical endodontic training. Data sources Literature searches of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Trip Database, Web of Science and Open Grey databases were conducted from their inception until November 2018 with no language restriction. Hand searching of most likely relevant journals was performed. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Study eligibility criteria, participants and interventions Studies that compared pre‐clinical endodontic training using extracted teeth and artificial teeth were included. Study appraisal and synthesis methods The quality of included studies was appraised by Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. The findings were tabulated and summarized according to their outcomes with distinct narrative syntheses. Results Five studies were included. The component studies included 359 operators in total, mainly consisting of undergraduate students (97%, n = 349) and 10 endodontists (3%). Forty‐seven per cent (n = 170) operated on artificial teeth only, whilst 19% (n = 67) worked primarily on extracted teeth, with the final treatment outcome being evaluated by independent observers using objective criteria. Operators in two studies (34%, n = 122) used both artificial teeth and ET and compared their experiences in surveys. Regarding technical outcomes, no significant differences between training with artificial teeth and extracted teeth were found, but the performance tended to be better in artificial teeth than extracted teeth. Operators trained solely on artificial teeth appeared to be adequately educated for subsequent root canal treatment (RCT) in the clinical setting. Limitations Due to the scarcity of research on the topic overall, and the methodological variation between the studies, it was not possible to perform a quantitative analysis (meta‐analysis). Conclusions and implications of key findings Based on the available evidence, the use of artificial teeth for pre‐clinical endodontic training achieved similar educational outcomes compared to extracted teeth. However, the experiences reported by the operators diverged. Further studies assessing other artificial teeth available in the market testing other RCT procedures are necessary.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gutta-percha solvents on the bond strength of fiberglass post to root canal dentin. Forty bovine incisors were decoronated, prepared, filled, and randomly distributed into four groups (n = 10) according to the gutta-percha solvent used: control, xylene, eucalyptol and orange oil. After root canal treatment, the posts were cemented into the prepared root canals using a resin-based cement. A micro pushout test was executed, and the patterns of failure were assessed with microscopy. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. The control group exhibited greater bond strength compared to the eucalyptol group in the cervical and middle thirds of the root (P < 0.05); however, it did not differ significantly from the xylene and orange oil groups (P > 0.05). No difference was observed in the values of the xylene, orange oil, and eucalyptol groups (P > 0.05). The cervical third had higher values than the apical third for all tested solvents (P < 0.05). Adhesive failure between resin cement and dentin was the most frequent type of failure. The use of xylene and orange oil as gutta-percha solvents did not influence the bond strength of fiberglass posts to root canal dentin. (J Oral Sci 56, 105-112, 2014)

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Discuss the impact of new diagnostic and planning technologies on the resolution of a clinical case of an upper central incisor with lateral perforation, root canal calcification and apical periodontitis. A 44-year-old woman sought treatment because of a colour change in an anterior tooth. The tooth had already been endodontically accessed, and she reported that two different clinicians had failed to locate the root canal. A Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan showed excessive wear and root perforation in the middle third, as well as pulp canal obliteration in the apical third. The perforation was treated using a biomaterial, and the root canal was located using guided endodontics. This treatment protocol was used to access, prepare, medicate with calcium hydroxide for 21 days and fill the root canal. Treatment results were satisfactory at 6month follow-up.

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