Background and Objectives: The endodontic space is a complex area on both micro and macro levels; therefore, traditional irrigation techniques may not guarantee a complete cleaning of such a complicated tridimensional system. The presented ex vivo study aimed to evaluate root canal cleanliness, obtained through an equal volume of traditionally applied sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), compared to ultrasonically activated NaOCl and ultrasonically activated NaOCl that had undergone intracanal heating NaOCl. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 freshly extracted human mandibular premolars underwent root sample length standardization (18 mm), root canal preparation and, based on the irrigation method employed, were randomly and equally assigned to three study groups, composed of root samples treated with ultrasonically activated NaOCl, ultrasonically activated NaOCl that had undergone intracanal heating and traditionally applied NaOCl. The root specimens were subsequently fixated with 4% buffered formalin solution and decalcified in Morse liquid. A total often 6-micron-thick serial cross-sections were obtained, dyed using hematoxylin and eosin and examined through an optical microscope at 40×, 100×, and 200×. Results: Ultrasonically activated NaOCl that had undergone intracanal heating showed a significantly smaller amount of debris compared to ultrasonically activated and traditionally applied NaOCl groups (p value < 0.05). Conclusions: Root canal cleanliness saw significant enhancements by ultrasonically activated NaOCl that had undergone intracanal heating.

The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate and possibly differentiate the effects of traditional cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco, and electronic cigarettes on periodontal and peri-implant health status. Electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco have become very popular in recent years and have been proposed to consumers as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco smoke, although their effect on periodontal and peri-implant health remains unclear. The study protocol was developed according to PRISMA guidelines, and the focus question was formulated according to the PICO strategy. A literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE and the COCHRANE library from 2003 to April 2022. From the 1935 titles initially identified, 18 articles were finally included in the study and extracted data were qualitatively synthesized. It may be carefully concluded that e-cigarettes may cause attenuated clinical inflammatory signs of periodontitis and, hypothetically, of peri-implantitis when compared to conventional tobacco smoke. Both alternative smoking products, containing nicotine, may likewise exert negative effects on periodontal and peri-implant health, as demonstrated by in vitro studies. Further investigations are needed to assess the impact of electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products on periodontal and peri-implant health status.

Background: The root canal anatomy is a complex space, and using a single-cone obturation technique does not guarantee a complete filling. Aim: This research aimed to evaluate the actual temperature of the biosealer during the obturation phase inside the root canal using a new hot technique. In addition, this study evaluated the penetration depth of the biosealer inside dentinal tubules. Setting and Design: The current study was concluded on two ex vivo experiments; the former tested the temperature evaluation. The latter examined the penetration depth of the biosealer. Materials and Methods: In this study, 42 sec mandibular premolars were used, and two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, two premolars were utilized, and two thermocouples of K-type for each tooth were used. During the second experiment, the penetration depth of the biosealer was examined, 40 teeth were selected. Root canals were prepared then divided into two obturation groups: A, gutta-percha, and biosealer with single-cone technique and B, gutta-percha, and biosealer with a newly proposed obturation method. Confocal laser scanning was used to assess the penetration of the sealer. Statistical Analysis Used: In the first experiment, the Bonferroni method was performed to compare the temperature data. The tests used in the second experiment were Shapiro–Wilk's test, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney tests. Results: The first experiment results showed that the heat does not reach the apical third using the new obturation method. In the second experiment, the results showed in Group B significantly higher biosealer penetration into the dentinal tubules as compared to Group A ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: The highest level of penetration of the biosealer in the dentinal tubules was observed in the group of the new obturation method, and the last apical 3 mm remained at 37° using this novel hot modified technique providing no risk of chemical alteration of the biosealer.

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Since smoking is considered among the main risk factors for the onset and progression of periodontitis and peri-implantitis, the present systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on clinical, radiographic, and gingival crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth and dental implants in ex-smokers compared to current and non-smokers. The study protocol was developed based on the PRISMA guidelines, the research question was formulated according to the PICO model, and the literature search was conducted through PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane library, and BioMed Central databases. From the 916 title/abstracts initially identified, seven articles were included in the present systematic review and assessed for quality through the ROBINS-I tool. Reported findings on clinical and crevicular periodontal parameters around natural teeth were contrasting when comparing ex-smokers to current and non-smokers; thus, individualized recommendations for previous smoker periodontal patients are currently lacking. No data on radiographic parameters were retrieved. Similarly, data on periodontal parameters around dental implants were not available, highlighting the need for focused investigations assessing the role of both smoking habit and cessation on peri-implant health status and responsiveness to treatment.