MTA Fillapex had the lowest push-out bond values to root dentine compared with other sealers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the root and canal morphology of mandibular first and second molars in a Turkish population by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Study design: CBCT images of mandibular first (n = 823) and second molar (n = 925) teeth from 605 Turkish patients were analyzed. The root canal configurations were classified according to the method of Vertucci. Results: The majority of mandibular molars (95.8% of first molars, 85.4% of second molars) had two separate roots; however, three roots were identified in 2.06% of first molars and 3.45% of second molars. C-shaped canals occurred 0.85% of first molars and 4.1% of second molars. Three canals were found in 79.9% of first molars and 72.8% of second molars. Most distal roots had a simple type I configuration, whereas mesial roots had more complex canal systems, with more than one canal. The most common root morphology of first and second molars is the two rooted morphology with three canals. Both the mesial and distal roots showed wide variations in canal anatomy with type IV and type I canal configuration predominating in the mesial and distal roots, respectively. Conclusion: Vertucci type I and IV canal configurations were the most prevalent in the distal and mesial roots, respectively, of both the mandibular first and second permanent molar teeth. Key words:Cone-beam CT, Turkish, mandibular molars, root and canal morphology.

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INTRODUCTIONRoot-fi lled teeth are more susceptible to fracture than vital teeth. Ironically, these teeth which were already compromised before root canal treatment are further weakened by the process. A few reasons contribute to the vulnerability of root-fi lled teeth, chief of which is root dentin dehydration after the endodontic procedures 1) . Other reasons that predispose root-fi lled teeth to fracture include brittleness of root-fi lled teeth because of loss of tooth structure 2,3) , excessive pressure during fi lling procedures 1,4) , and excessive widening of root canals 5) . After root canal treatment, the standard fi lling material is gutta percha. To obtain a hermetic seal, gutta percha is typically used in conjunction with root canal sealers because gutta percha is incapable of bonding to root canal walls. Root canal sealers not only fi ll the voids between gutta percha points, they also fi ll the voids between gutta percha and root canal walls 6) . Bondable root canal sealers purportedly improve the seal and fracture resistance of endodontically treated roots 7,8) . To date, confl icting results were reported from different research studies. On the one hand, one study 9) found no signifi cant differences in fracture resistance between roots fi lled with a bondable root canal fi lling system, Epiphany, and those fi lled with gutta percha and an epoxy resin-based sealer, AH 26. On the other hand, a study 10) found that the fracture resistance of roots fi lled with gutta percha and AH 26 was superior to that of roots fi lled with the Epiphany system.Recently, a new root canal sealer, iRoot SP (Innovative BioCreamix Inc, Vancouver, Canada), was introduced to the market. According to the manufacturer, iRoot SP is a convenient, pre-mixed, ready-to-use injectable white hydraulic cement paste developed for permanent root canal fi lling and sealing applications. Based on a calcium silicate composition, iRoot SP is an insoluble, radiopaque, and aluminum-free material which requires the presence of water to set and harden.Another recently introduced root canal sealer is MTA Fillapex (Angelus Solucxoes Odontologicas, Londrina, Brazil). Based on an MTA (mineral trioxide aggregate) composition, other ingredients of MTA Fillapex include resins and silica (Table 1). According to the manufacturer, it has high radiopacity, low solubility in contact with tissue fl uids, low expansion during setting, and excellent viscosity for insertion. It does not stain the tooth and promotes deposition of hard tissue at the root apex and perforation sites.The purpose of the study was to compare the fracture resistance of roots fi lled with gutta percha and sealed with one of these three root canal sealers: an epoxy-based root canal sealer AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany), a calcium silicate-based root canal sealer iRoot SP, and an MTA-based root canal sealer MTA Fillapex. The null hypothesis was that root canal sealers would not infl uence the fracture resistance of root-fi lled teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS Root canal p...

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of resin infiltration and sealant type on enamel surface properties and Streptococcus mutans adhesion to artificial enamel lesions. Artificial enamel lesions were produced on the surfaces of 120 enamel specimens, which were divided into two groups: Group A and Group B (n=60 per group). Each group was further divided into four subgroups (n=15 per subgroup) according to sealant type: Group I-Demineralized enamel (control); Group II-Enamel Pro Varnish; Group III-ExciTE F; and Group IV-Icon. In Group A, hardness and surface roughness were evaluated; in Group B, bacterial adhesion was evaluated. Icon application resulted in significantly lower surface roughness and higher hardness than the other subgroups in Group A. In Group B, Enamel Pro Varnish resulted in lowest bacterial adhesion, followed by Icon. This study showed that resin infiltration of enamel lesions could arrest lesion progress.

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Objectives:The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency and distribution of early tooth loss and endodontic treatment needs of permanent first molars in a Turkish pediatric population.Materials and Methods:A total of 7,895 panoramic radiographs taken for routine dental examination at the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Radiology between 2008 and 2012 years were investigated. Two independent specialists evaluated early tooth loss and endodontic treatment needs of permanent first molars using panoramic radiography and patient anamnesis forms. The teeth were classified according to the following data: (a) Missing teeth, (b) teeth requiring extraction, (c) endodontically treated teeth (ETT), (d) teeth requiring endodontic therapy. The data also classified according to four factors: Age group (6-12 and 13-16), gender (boy and girl), jaw (mandible and maxilla) and side (right and left). A Chi-square test was used for statistical analyses.Results:A total of 19,488 and 12,092 teeth were evaluated in the child group and adolescent group respectively. All data were higher in adolescents than children (P < 0.001). For gender factor, only ETT was higher in girls than it was in boys (P < 0.001). For the jaw factor, all data were higher (P < 0.001) in mandible than in the maxilla. For the side factor, no statistical difference existed between right and left.Conclusions:Early tooth loss and endodontic treatment needs of permanent first molars showed variability according to age groups and jaws. When the results were compared according to the side and gender factors, no statistical difference was found (P > 0.05) except with the data of ETT in gender groups.