Objetivo: Verificar in vivo a precisão e confiabilidade de leitura do localizador foraminal eletrônico Joypex 5 ® utilizando o microscópio eletrônico de varredura na aferição das medidas obtidas pelo aparelho. Método: Foram triados pacientes com indicação para extração por motivos ortodônticos e periodontais, o que resultou em amostra de 14 canais. Os dentes foram previamente radiografados com a intenção de detectar perfurações, tratamentos endodônticos prévios e calcificações. Realizadas as aberturas coronárias, os terços cervical e médio foram preparados e procederam-se as leituras no ponto correspondente no display do aparelho ao forame apical. Após a obtenção da medida a lima foi removida e subtraiu-se 1mm do comprimento lido em paquímetro digital para, então, fixar o instrumento e realizar a exodontia. Na seqüência foi realizado um desgaste em uma das paredes da região apical, objetivando visualizar a ponta do instrumento e a continuidade do canal até a real saída do forame apical. A distância entre a ponta da lima e a real saída foraminal foi medida com o auxílio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Resultados: A média das medidas foi 0,87 mm (0,42mm). O teste T para amostras independentes revelou que os dados mostraram-se semelhantes (p > 0,05) entre os valores experimentais encontrados (da ponta do instrumento ao forame apical) e o valor hipotético testado de 1 mm. Conclusões: O estudo concluiu que o localizador foraminal eletrônico Joypex 5 ® demonstrou ser preciso e confiável na determinação de um comprimento de trabalho eficiente e seguro para o tratamento endodôntico. Endodontia; Odontometria; Equipamentos e provisões. Objective: To evaluate in vivo the measurement accuracy and reliability of the electronic apex locator Joypex 5 ® using a scanning electron microscope to assess the measurements obtained with the tested device. Method: Patients with indication for tooth extraction for orthodontic and periodontal reasons were screened, providing a sample of 14 root canals. The teeth were first radiographed for detecting perforations, previous endodontic treatments and calcifications. After preparation of access cavities, the coronal and middle thirds were prepared and the electronic measurements were made on the point corresponding to the apical foramen of the apex locator's display. After the electronic reading, the file was removed from the canal, 1 mm was subtracted from the measurement obtained using a digital caliper, and the apex locator was fixed for extraction of the tooth. Next, grinding was performed on an apical wall in order to visualize the tip of the file and canal integrity up to the actual apical foramen opening. The distance between the file tip and the actual apical foramen opening was measured by scanning electron microscopy. Results: The mean of the obtained measurements was 0.87 mm (0.42 mm). The t test for independent samples revealed statistical similarity (p>0.05) among the obtained values (from the file tip to actual apical foramen) and the hypothetical 1 mm value. Conclusio...

The success of an endodontic treatment relies on a correct working length determination. The canal terminus must be detected accurately and a precise control of the working length during the endodontic treatment must be maintained. The aim of this study was to investigate the working length determination in vivo with the Quill Apex Locator® for apical limit established at 1 mm short from the apical foramen (AF). Patients scheduled to dental extraction due to orthodontic or periodontal reasons were selected for this study, resulting in a sample of 24 root canals. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before the treatment. After the administration of local anesthesia each tooth had its pulp cavity accessed. Next, the reading corresponding to the AF showed on the device's display was recorded and the file was removed. With the use of a digital caliper, 1 mm was subtracted from that first measurement. The file with the new measurement was introduced into to the root canal again then fixed with light curing flow composite and the tooth was extracted. Next, one of the apical third walls was worn out to visualize the instrument's point and the AF. The distance from the file tip to the AF was measured by scanning electron microscopy. The average of the measurements was 1.089±0.437 mm. The Bicaudal t-test showed no significant difference (p=0.338) between the experimental values and the hypothetical value tested at 1 mm. The present investigation confirmed that the Quill Apex Locator® was able to determine the working length with good reliability for the endodontic treatment, established at 1 mm short from the AF.

To evaluate the postoperative pain at different times after endodontic treatment with and without the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of asymptomatic teeth with apical periodontitis. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional randomized clinical trial, the treatment was performed in a single visit with and without the use of photodynamic therapy. The sample consisted of 10 patients with two teeth in the same jaw, but on different sides (splitmouth), subjected to the same endodontic treatment with reciprocating instrumentation in the apical foramen instrumentation limit. The teeth from each patient were randomly divided into two groups: G1 (Control): endodontic treatment without photodynamic therapy and G2 (PDT): received methylene blue 0.005% and irradiation with a low-level laser. The fillings were performed with a Touch'n Heat technical device and Ah Plus sealer. The treatments of G1 and G2 in the same patient were performed in an interval of 3 weeks between them and the blinding study was ensured during all long treatment. Postoperative pain was recorded using an adapted VAS scale in times of 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours. Results: In both groups, the highest value recorded at the VAS scale was 2 mm (no pain), and there were no statistically significant differences in postoperative pain between the groups at any observation times (p<0.05). Conclusion: The photodynamic therapy did not have advantages to control postoperative pain in endodontic treatments of asymptomatic teeth with apical periodontitis, since both groups showed low levels of pain in all patients evaluated.

The intense valuation of an esthetic pleasant smile guided the dentistry to bleached tooth due the popularity of whitening treatments. The consequence of it is an increasing interest in searching the effect of peroxides in hard dental tissues. The aim of this work was to analyze qualitatively in vitro the human enamel after three different bleaching treatments: Opalescence PF 10%, White Class 7.5% and Opalescence Xtra Boost 38%, correlating the structural changes in the surface of the enamel with its respective pH. A total of 40 sound human pre-molars were randomly divided into four groups of 10 elements, which had been immersed in artificial saliva during all the experiment. Bleaching protocols followed the recommendations of the respective manufacturers. Each bleached sample and control group were submitted to a scanning electronic microscopy analysis and compared with one another. Bleaching agents used in this experiment had modified the morphologic aspect of the surface of the dental enamel; however, it did not have correlation between the degrees of severity of the alterations and pH. There is a correlation between hydrogen peroxide concentration and changes in the enamel, where G4 showed more severe alterations, followed for G3 and G2.

Objective: This research study aims at conducting an in vitro evaluation of crack formation in freshly extracted teeth after undergoing different storage and decontamination methods. Methods: 60 erupted upper third molars conventionally extracted using forceps # 210h (quinelato surgical instruments, rio claro - sp) and randomly distributed in three groups (n = 30): group 1 - storage in dry environment for 30 days, group 2 - sterilization in autoclave and storage for 30 days in distilled water, and group 3 - 10% formaldehyde decontamination for 14 days and storage in distilled water for additional 30 days. after the storage period, teeth had their roots transversely sectioned at 2, 4 and 6 mm below the root apex using a low rotation diamond disk under constant cooling. the evaluation of fragments was performed using a 30-time magnification microscope. Results: Cracks were seen only in group 1 and the chi-square statistical test with 5% significance level showed a statistically significant difference comparing the dry storage group to the others. Conclusion: The storage of extracted teeth in a dry environment influences the formation of dentinal defects.

Introduction: Finishing and polishing materials did not develop as the composites improved in these last years. The nanometric load particles were firstly and only incorporated in the polishing pastes formulation in this in vitro and in situ study. Objective: This study evaluated the biofilm retention of two different composite resins -Vit-l-escence™ (microhybrid) and Filtek™ Z350 XT (Nanofilled) after finishing and polishing technique, quantification and in situ comparison of the polishing pastes effectiveness with micrometric loads (Enamelize™ and Diamond Polish Paste™) and Nanofilled load -Lummina-E (Alumina and Diamond). Materials and Methods: Ten volunteers were selected for the in situ biofilm evaluation, a palatal device made of acrylic resin was confectioned, and each intra-oral device had fixed six specimens from each experimental group. After exposition to 20% sacarosis, the biofilm from each specimen was extracted in NaOH 1.0 M and quantified by absorbance spectrophotometer. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, followed for multiple comparisons of averages for the ad hoc de Dunn test, both at 1% significance level. Results: Vit-l-escence™ resin showed lower biofilm retention than Filtek Z350™ XT in all the tested groups. The lowest biofilm retention was after aluminum oxide paste (Lummina-E -Alumina) polishing. Conclusion:The Vit-l-escence™ (microhybrid) composite resin exhibited lower biofilm retention than Filtek™ Z350 XT (nanofilled) resin among all the tested groups. The lowest in situ biofilm retention occurred at the surfaces treated with Lummina -E Alumina (folder-based aluminum oxide) nanometric prototype.