• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.21.1-21.12
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• 2020

The aim of this article was to review age-dependent clinical recommendations for appropriate root canal instrumentation techniques. A comprehensive narrative review of canal morphology, the structural characteristics of dentin, and endodontic outcomes at different ages was undertaken instead of a systematic review. An electronic literature search was carried out, including the Medline (Ovid), PubMed, and Web of Science databases. The searches used controlled vocabulary and free-text terms, as follows: 'age-related root canal treatment,' 'age-related instrumentation,' 'age-related chemo-mechanical preparation,' 'age-related endodontic clinical recommendations,' 'root canal instrumentation at different ages,' 'geriatric root canal treatment,' and 'pediatric root canal treatment.' Due to the lack of literature with practical age-based clinical recommendations for an appropriate root canal instrumentation technique, a narrative review was conducted to suggest a clinical algorithm for choosing the most appropriate instrumentation technique during root canal treatment. Based on the evidence found through the narrative review, an age-related clinical algorithm for choosing appropriate instrumentation during root canal treatment was proposed. Age affects the morphology of the root canal system and the structural characteristics of dentin. The clinician's awareness of root canal morphology and dentin characteristics can influence the choice of instruments for root canal treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.27.1-27.10
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• 2021

This study describes 6 cases of endodontic overfilling with successful clinical outcomes during long-term (up to 35 years) radiographic follow-up. Successful endodontic treatment depends on proper shaping, disinfection, and obturation of root canals. Filling materials should completely fill the root canal space without exceeding the anatomical apex. Overfilling may occur when the filling material extrudes into the periapical tissues beyond the apex. The present case series describes 6 root canal treatments in which overfilling of root canal sealer and gutta-percha accidentally occurred. Patients' teeth were periodically checked with periapical radiographs in order to evaluate the outcomes during long-term follow-up. All cases showed healing and progressive resorption of the extruded materials in the periapex. The present cases showed that if a 3-dimensional seal was present at the apical level, overfilling did not negatively affect the long-term outcomes of root canal treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.10
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• 2024

Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and the technical quality of root canal fillings in an adult Kuwaiti subpopulation using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Two experienced examiners analyzed 250 CBCT images obtained from Kuwaiti patients aged 15-65 years who attended government dental specialist clinics between January 2019 and September 2020. The assessment followed the radiographic scoring criteria proposed by De Moor for periapical status and the technical quality of root canal filling. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis, with significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the 2,762 examined teeth, 191 (6.91%) exhibited radiographic signs of AP, and 176 (6.37%) had undergone root canal filling. AP prevalence in root canal-treated teeth was 32.38%, with a significant difference between males and females. Most of the endodontically treated teeth exhibited adequate root canal filling (71.5%). Conclusions: The study demonstrated a comparable prevalence of AP and satisfactory execution of root canal treatment compared to similar studies in different countries.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.560-569
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• 2008

Microorganism survived in the root canal after root canal cleaning and shaping procedure is a main cause of root canal treatment failure. There are several mechanisms for the bacteria to survive in the root canal after chemomechanical preparation and root canal irrigation. Bacteria organized as biofilm has been suggested as an etiology of persistent periapical lesion. Recent studies were focus on removal of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm due to the report that the persistence of this bacteria after root canal treatment may be associated with its ability to form biofilm. Several investigations demonstrated that current root canal treatment protocol including use of NaOCl, EDTA and Chlorhexidine as irrigants is quite effective in eliminating E. faecalis biofilm. However, this microorganism still can survive in inaccessible areas of root canal system and evade host immune response, suppress immune activity and produce biofilm. Up to date, there is no possible clinical method to completely get rid of bacteria from the root canal. Once the root canal treatment failure occurred, and conventional treatment incorporating current therapeutic protocol has failed, periapical surgery or extraction should be considered rather than prolong the in effected retreatment procedure.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2015

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans appears to be a valuable method for assessing pulp canal configuration. The aim of this report is to describe endodontic treatment of a mandibular second premolar with aberrant pulp canal morphology detected by CBCT and confirmed by 3D modeling. An accessory canal was suspected during endodontic treatment of the mandibular left second premolar in a 21 year old woman with a chief complaint of pulsating pain. Axial cross-sectional CBCT scans revealed that the pulp canal divided into mesiobuccal, lingual, and buccal canals in the middle third and ended as four separate foramina. 3D modeling confirmed the anomalous configuration of the fused root with a deep lingual groove. Endodontic treatment of the tooth was completed in two appointments. The root canals were obturated using lateral compaction of gutta-percha and root canal sealer. The tooth remained asymptomatic and did not develop periapical pathology until 12 months postoperatively. CBCT and 3D modeling enable preoperative evaluation of aberrant root canal systems and facilitate endodontic treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.37.1-37.9
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) in the mesiobuccal roots of root canal-treated maxillary molars. Materials and Methods: One thousand cone-beam computed tomography images of the teeth were examined by 2 dental specialists in oral radiology and endodontics. The internal anatomy of the roots, Vertucci's classification, quality of root canal treatment, and presence of missed canals were evaluated; additionally, the correlation between these variables and AP was ascertained. Results: A total of 1,000 roots (692 first molars and 308 second molars) encompassing 1,549 canals were assessed, and the quality of the root canal filling in the majority (56.9%) of the canals was satisfactory. AP was observed in 54.4% of the teeth. A mesiolingual canal in the mesiobuccal root (MB2 canal) was observed in 54.9% of the images, and the majority (83.5%) of these canals were not filled. Significant associations were observed between the presence of an MB2 canal and the quality of the root canal filling and the presence of AP. Conclusions: AP was detected in more than half of the images. The MB2 canals were frequently missed or poorly filled.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.608-608
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• 2003

The main objectives of root canal therapy are cleaning and shaping and then obturating the root canal system in 3 dimensions to prevent reinfection. Many instrumentation techniques and devices, supported by an irrigation system capable of removing pulp tissue remnants and dentin debris, have been proposed to shape root canals. But current regimens in chemomechanical debridement using instrumentation and irrigation with NaOCl are not predictably effective in root canal disinfection. These findings are not surprising because the root canal system is complex and contains numerous ramifications and anatomical irregularities. The microorganisms in root canals not only invade the anatomic irregularities of the root canal system but also are present in the dentinal tubules. Therefore further disinfection with an effective antimicrobial agent may be necessary and it well1mown that use of intracanal medication will lower bacterial count in infected root canals. Calcium hydroxide has a long history of use in endodontics, and more attention has been given to the use of calcium hydroxide as intracanal dressing for the treatment of infected pulp. However, when treatment is completed in one visit, no intracanal medications other than intracanal irrigants are used. Recently, a mixture of a tetracycline isomer, an acid, and a detergent(MTAD), has been introduced as a final rinse for disinfuction of the root canal system. It has been shown that MTAD is able to remove the smear layer with minimal erosive changes on the surface of dentin, and is effective against Enterococcus faecalis, a microorganism resistant to the action of other antimicrobial medications. In another study, the ability of MTAD was investigated to disinfect contaminated root canals with whole saliva and compared its efficacy to that of NaOCl Based on the results, it seems that MTAD is significantly more effective than 5.25% NaOCl in eradicating bacteria from infected root canals. In the cytotoxicity evaluation, MTAD is less cytotoxic than engenol, 3% $H20_2,\;Ca(OH)_2$ paste, 5.25% NaGCl, Peridex, and EDTA and more cytotoxic than 2.63%,1.31% and 0.66% NaOCl. Is it promising or transient?

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare different radiographic methods for assessing endodontically treated teeth. Materials and Methods: Root canal treatments were applied in 120 extracted mandibular teeth, which were divided into four groups: (1) ideal root canal treatment (60 teeth), (2) insufficient lateral condensation (20 teeth), (3) root canals filled short of the apex (20 teeth), (4) overfilled root canal treatment (20 teeth). The teeth were imaged using intraoral film, panoramic film, digital intraoral systems (CCD and PSP), CCD obtained with portable X-ray source, digital panoramic, and CBCT images obtained at 0.3 $mm^3$ and 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel size. Images were evaluated separately by three observers, twice. Kappa coefficients were calculated. The percentage of correct readings obtained from each modality was calculated and compared using a t-test (p<0.05). Results: The intra-observer kappa for each observer ranged between 0.327 and 0.849. The inter-observer kappa for each observer for both readings ranged between 0.312 and 0.749. For the ideal root canal treatment group, CBCT with 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel images revealed the best results. For insufficient lateral condensation, the best readings were found with periapical film followed by CCD and PSP. The assessment of teeth with root canals filled short of the apex showed the highest percentage of correct readings by CBCT and CCD. For the overfilled canal treatment group, PSP images and conventional periapical film radiographs had the best scores. Conclusion: CBCT was found to be successful in the assessment of teeth with ideal root canal treatment and teeth with canals filled short of the apex.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2013

Maxillary lateral incisors usually exhibit a single root with a single canal. However, maxillary lateral incisor teeth with unusual morphology of root canal system are frequently reported. These cases of variable root canal anatomy can be treated well by nonsurgical endodontic methods. A detailed description of root canal morphology is fundamental for successful endodontic treatment. Treatment using an operating microscope, radiographs from different angles, and cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) can produce more predictable endodontic outcomes.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.7
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• pp.392-402
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• 2019

The most important part of everyday root canal treatment is diagnosis about the morphology of tooth, root and root canal. Usually this procedure is performed by visual examination and radiographic (panoramic/periapical) examination. However, 2-dimentional radiography has several limitations such as imposition of anatomic structures including buccal/lingual root canals and distortion of images. Recently, owing to the increased interest in dental implant and affordable cost of CBCT equipment, CBCT has been introduced widely in local dental clinics. CBCT is characterized by their lower radiation dose and shorter exposure time than conventional CT scan, and ability of 3-dimentional reconstruction of the dento-alveolar structure. Also in endodontic field, the data from CBCT could be very helpful in diagnosing complex root canal anatomy, apical periodontitis, cause of failure and in determining treatment plan. However, there are some limitations such as radiation dose and artifact. Therefore, clinicians should know about indication, advantages and limitations of CBCT, and properly use it for successful root canal treatment to save the natural teeth.