Nakamura VC, Pinheiro ET, Prado LC, Silveira AC, Carvalho APL, Mayer MPA, Gavini G. Effect of ultrasonic activation on the reduction of bacteria and endotoxins in root canals: a randomized clinical trial. Journal, 51, e12-e22, 2018. Aim This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of ultrasonic activation with that of nonactivated irrigation on the removal of bacteria and endotoxin from root canals. Methodology Fifty patients with necrotic pulps and asymptomatic apical periodontitis were randomly allocated into two groups according to the final irrigation protocol after root canal preparation: Group UIultrasonic irrigation (n = 25) and Group NI -needle irrigation (n = 25). The root canals were medicated with calcium hydroxide for 14 days. Microbiological sampling was performed before (S1) and after the root canal preparation (S2), after the irrigation protocols (S3) and after the removal of the intracanal medication (S4). Total bacteria counts were determined by qPCR and the endotoxin levels by the limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Intragroup analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon test for related samples, whereas intergroup analyses were performed using the MannWhitney U-test (P < 0.05). Results All S1 samples were positive for bacteria, with median numbers of 1.49 9 10 6 and 8.55 9 10 5 bacterial cells for the UI and NI groups, respectively. This number significantly decreased in S2 samples (UI: 1.41 9 10 4 ; NI: 3.53 9 10 4 ; both with P < 0.001). After final irrigation protocols, there was a significant decrease in bacterial load from S2 to S3 samples in both groups (UI: 4.29 9 10 3 ; NI: International Endodontic1.08 9 10 4 ; P < 0.01). Intergroup analysis revealed a significant difference between irrigation methods regarding bacterial counts in S3 samples (P < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between groups for endotoxin levels (P > 0.05). Conclusions Ultrasonic activation was more effective than nonactivated irrigation for reducing the number of bacteria but not the endotoxin levels in root canals of teeth with apical periodontitis.

Irrigation with 5.25% NaOCl and 1% NaOCl alternated with 15% citric acid reduced microorganisms in infected root canals significantly more than saline and 1% NaOCl.

Ex vivo evaluation of three instrumentation techniques on E. faecalis biofilm within oval shaped root canals Abstract: The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of reciprocating instrumentation in disinfecting oval-shaped root canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis. Forty-five human lower premolars were infected with a culture of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) for 28 days. Five other teeth that were neither contaminated nor instrumented were used as controls. The 45 specimens were divided into three experimental groups (n = 15) based on the root canal preparation technique used: manual (K-type, Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland); rotary (MTwo, VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany); and reciprocating (Reciproc R50, VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany) instruments. During chemomechanical preparation, 21 mL of 2.5% NaOCl was used as the irrigating solution. Microbiological sampling was performed before (S1) and immediately after (S2) the chemomechanical preparation using sterilized paper points. Specimens were then cleaved, and 0.02 g of dentine chips was collected from the root thirds to verify the presence of microorganisms in dentinal tubules. All three preparation techniques reduced the number of microorganisms in the root canal lumen and dentine chips from the root thirds, but no significant differences were observed between the three groups (p > 0.05). Reciprocating instrumentation with Reciproc R50 was effective in reducing the number of microorganisms within the root canal system. Although this technique involves the use of only one file to perform the root canal therapy, it is as effective as conventional rotary instrumentation in reducing the E. faecalis biofilm from the root canal system. However, further clinical investigations are warranted in order to ratify these results.

Nakamura VC. Influence of passive ultrasonic irrigation in bacteria and endotoxins from root canals: a randomized clinical study [thesis].

Objective. To evaluate through FE-SEM the cleanliness and dentinal alterations promoted by different methods of dental sample preparation. Methods. Twenty-five human single-rooted teeth were used. The teeth were cleaned and autoclaved in wet medium and randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 5), according to the preparation methods employed—control group: no solutions applied; group 1: cement removal and irrigation with 5.25% NaOCl  + 17 % EDTA for 4 minutes each; group 2: 17%  EDTA + 2.5% NaOCl (4 minutes ultrasonic bath); group 3: cement removal and 17%  EDTA + 5.25%  NaOCl + phosphate buffer solution + distilled water (10 minutes ultrasonic); group 4: 17%  EDTA + 5.25% NaOCl (3 minutes ultrasonic bath). Specimens were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), at 1500x magnification. Data were submitted to qualitative analysis according to a scoring system and submitted to Kruskal-Wallis test. Results. In ascending order, as to bind parameters, (i) cleanliness: control, group 2, group 3, group 5, and group 4, (ii) dentinal alterations: group 1, group 5, group 2, group 3, and group 4. Conclusion. The proposed protocol was suitable for subsequent microbiological contamination, because it showed less dentinal morphological alterations with increased removal of organic waste.

Objective The rDNA-based method is unable to distinguish between alive and dead cells. Alternatively, bacterial viability can be assessed by molecular methods based on ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Therefore, this study aimed to detect viable streptococci in root canal samples using rRNA-based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), compared to an rDNA-based PCR assay. Methodology Microbiological root canal samples were obtained from 32 teeth with primary endodontic infections before (S1) and after chemomechanical preparation (S2), and after removal of intracanal medication (S3). RNA and DNA were extracted, and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from RNA using RT reaction. cDNA and genomic DNA were subjected to PCR with primers complementary to the 16S rRNA sequences of Streptococcus spp. McNemar’s test was used to compare the detection rate of both assays (P<0.05). Results Streptococci were detected in 28.12% (9/32) and 37.5% (12/32) of S1 samples using rRNA- and rDNA-based PCR assays, respectively. In contrast, they were detected in only 6.25% (2/32) of S2 samples using rRNA-based RT-PCR, compared to 15.62% (5/32) using rDNA-based PCR. Finally, in S3 samples, streptococci were not detected by rRNA, whereas rDNA-based PCR still detected the bacteria in 12.5% (4/32) of the samples. The total number of PCR-positive reactions in the rDNA-based PCR was higher than in the rRNA-based assay (P<0.05). Conclusions The rRNA-based RT-PCR showed a lower detection rate of streptococci when compared to the rDNA-based PCR, suggesting that the latter may have detected dead cells of streptococci in root canal samples.

Nakamura VC. Desinfecção de canais radiculares preparados por diferentes técnicas de instrumentação e regimes de irrigação [dissertação]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia; 2010. O intuito do presente trabalho foi avaliar in vitro a desinfecção de canais radiculares de pré-molares inferiores humanos, variando a técnica de preparo e os regimes de irrigação utilizados. Para isso, 85 espécimes foram padronizados em comprimento e diâmetro apical e, após o devido preparo, receberam contaminação com Enterococcus faecalis e Candida albicans por 28 dias. Os canais foram divididos em 8 grupos: G1-instrumentação manual associada à irrigação com solução fisiológica; G2-instrumentação manual associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 1,0%; G3instrumentação manual associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 1,0% e AC à 15%; G4instrumentação manual associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 5,25%; G5instrumentação rotatória associada à irrigação com solução fisiológica; G6instrumentação rotatória associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 1,0%; G7instrumentação rotatória associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 1,0% e AC à 15%; G8instrumentação rotatória associada à irrigação com NaOCl à 5,25%. O grupo controle negativo foi composto por 5 dentes preenchidos com meio de cultura esterilizado. Todos os canais dos grupos experimentais foram preparados até instrumentos com diâmetro final de 0,50mm. Coletas microbianas foram realizada antes e após o PQC, com auxílio de pontas de papel esterilizadas. Raspas de dentina foram coletadas após o PQC com o intuito de verificar a ocorrência de MOs no interior dos túbulos dentinários. Não houve diferença estatística entre as técnicas de instrumentação, quanto à diminuição microbiana no interior dos canais. Quanto aos regimes de irrigação, o soro fisiológico produziu os piores resultados, seguido pelo NaOCl à 1,0%. Já quando acompanhado pelo AC, a desinfecção alcançada não demonstrou diferença estatística quanto aos grupos irrigados com NaOCl à 5,25%. Palavras-chave: Canal radicular (preparo). Instrumentos endodônticos. Endodontia.

The oral cavity is highly susceptible to pathological changes due to the deleterious effects of radiation (RI) on tissues exposed during radiotherapy (RT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using pulse oximeter (PO) as a diagnostic instrument for assessing the pulp oxygenation level (%SpO2) of immature teeth previously exposure to IR. Pulp oxygenation saturation was evaluated in fifteen children or adolescent patients (Group RT) that received previous IR, 6.01 years ago (SD 4.08 years), and fifteen patients without a history of neoplasms or previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy (CO group). As result, the mean %SpO2 measured in Group RT and Group CO was 86.06% (SD 1.61%) and 91.11% (SD 0.87%), respectively. Conclusions: The use of the pulse oximeter adapted for dentistry for pulpal vitality evaluation in patients who received radiotherapy is feasible showing lower level of SpO2 than that of the control group (p<0.05).