• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2010

The final preparation (MAF) size in infected root canals is still controversial. Nonetheless, recent studies demonstrated that larger apical preparation sizes produces a greater reduction in remaining bacteria and dentinal debris as compared to smaller apical preparation sizes. Therefore, clinicians should be practiced with treatment strategies guided by evidence-based information, especially in infected/failed root canals.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare the initial apical file(IAF) first Ole that fits to the apex in each canal before and after early flaring to analyze if the size of file to fit to the apex would increase after flaring. Eighty anterior teeth with complete apical formation and patent foramens were selected. The samples were randomly divided into 4 groups(GG, OS, GT, PT Group) of 20 teeth each. A file was fit to the apex in each canal and that size recorded. Radicular flaring were completed using different types of instruments. After flaring a file was again fit to the apex in the same manner as before and its size recorded. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The mean diameter of IAF before flaring(file diameters in $mm{\times}10^{-2}$) was $19.81{\pm}8.32$ before and $25.94{\pm}9.21$ after(p<0.05). 2. The increase in diameter of IAF was approximately one file size for all groups. 3. Ranking of increasing diameter of IAF were GG>CT>OS>PT group. There was a statistically significant difference between before and after flaring(p<0.05). 4 Ranking of the time for flaring were GG>GT>OS>PT group. There was a statistically significant difference between GG group and other groups(p<0.05). 5. In the case without change of IAF diameter, they showed decrease in force after flaring when IAF was pulled out from root canal(p<0.05). This study suggested that early radicular flaring increases the file size that is snug at the apex, and awareness of that difference gives the clinician a better sense of canal size. Early flaring of the canal provides better apical size information and with this awareness, a better decision can be made concerning the appropriate final diameter needed for complete apical shaping.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.43.1-43.9
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the detection rate of apical radiolucencies in 2-dimensional images using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as the reference standard, and to determine which factors related to the apical radiolucencies and the teeth could influence its detection. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of exams of patients who had panoramic (PAN) and/or periapical (PERI) radiography and CBCT. The exams were assessed by 2 oral radiologists and divided into PAN+CBCT (227 teeth-285 roots) and PERI+CBCT (94 teeth-115 roots). Radiographic images were evaluated for the presence of apical radiolucency, while CBCT images were assessed for presence, size, location, and involvement of the cortical bone (thinning, expansion, and destruction). Diagnostic values were obtained for PERI and PAN. Results: PERI and PAN presented high accuracy (0.83 and 0.77, respectively) and specificity (0.89 and 0.91, respectively), but low sensitivity, especially for PAN (0.40 vs. 0.65 of PERI). The size of the apical radiolucency was positively correlated with its detection in PERI and PAN (p < 0.001). For PAN, apical radiolucencies were 3.93 times more frequently detected when related to single-rooted teeth (p = 0.038). The other factors did not influence apical radiolucency detection (p > 0.05). Conclusions: PERI presents slightly better accuracy than PAN for the detection of apical radiolucency. The size is the only factor related to radiolucency that influences its detection, for both radiographic exams. For PAN, apical radiolucency is most often detected in single-rooted teeth.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-102
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• 1989

Thirty mandibular first molars were fixed, decalcified, washed and embedded in paraffin to observe the root canal size and morphology at apical 5mm area. The results were as follows 1. The 55% of mesial canals were single-canaled at apical 5mm area, but 95% of distal canals were single-canaled. 2. The morphology of canal at apical 5mm area were varied, most of them were round or ovoid and 8-shaped. 8-shapes of them were long, slender or long, thick. 3. The size of mesial canal was $1.8{\pm}0.2$, $0.6{\pm}0.1mm$, but that of distal canal was $1.0{\pm}0.2$, $0.6{\pm}0.1mm$ each.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.435-442
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• 2008

Type II root canal was defined that two canals leave the chamber and merge to form a single canal at short of the apex. The aim of this study was to analyse the master apical file (MAF) size according to various instrumentation techniques in the type II root canal when each canal was enlarged to working length. Eighty mesial roots of molar with ISO #15 initial apical file (IAF) size in type II root canals were randomly divided into four experimental groups with 20 teeth each. According to enlarging instruments, four groups are: K-$FLEXOFILE^{(R)}$ (KF), engine-driven Ni-Ti $P_{RO}T_{APER}{^{(R)}}$ (PT), HERO $Shaper^{(R)}$ (HS), $K^{3\;TM}$ (K3). All canals were enlarged to each working length with ISO #30 size: #30 in KF, F3 in PT, .04/30 in HS, and .06/30 in K3. The master apical file (MAF) size was confirmed by tactile sensation and universal test- ing machine (EZ test, Shimadzu Co., Kyoto, Japan). The mean MAF size was statistically compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test at the 0.05 probability level. These results show that the MAF size was appeared one or two sizes larger than the final enlarging instrument when all canal in type II configuration were enlarged to each working length. Therefore, the clinician have to confirm the apical stop once more after instrumentation of type II root canal.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.66-76
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of customized master cone on apical sealing in various apical size of prepared root canals, that is MAF(Master Apical File) and to know at which apical size the apical leakage is to be significantly reduced using customized master cone. 120 extracted single rooted premolars were divided into four groups according to their apical size(MAF), #30, 40, 50 and 60. And then, each group was subdivided into three in accordance with three obturation methods, lateral condensation with standardized master cone, lateral condensation with chloroform-dipped customized master cone, and continuous wave of obturation technique. Resorcinol-formaldehyde resin was used for the microleakage test of this study. Teeth were sectioned horizontally at 1.5mm(Level 1), 2.5mm(Level 2), and 3.5mm(Level 3) from the anatomical root apex using low speed microtome. All sections were examined under $\times$40 magnification with a stereomicroscope, photographed, and then scanned. With the scanned images, resin-infiltrated area presenting the microleakage was calculated using SigmaScan/Image, and the ratio of leakage to the total root canal area of each group was analyzed statistically(one way ANOVA). The results were as follows ; 1. In groups of MAF #30, there was no significant difference of mean leakage ratio among three obturation methods at all three levels. 2. In groups of MAF #40, the group using lateral condensation with customized master cone had the low-est mean leakage ratio at all three levels, but there was no significant difference among three obturation techniques. 3. In groups of MAF #50, the mean leakage ratio of the group using lateral condensation with standard master cone was the highest among those of three obturation techniques at level 1, and this difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). 4 In groups of MAF #60, the groups using lateral condensation with standard master cone had also the highest mean leakage ratio at all levels, but there was no significant difference at level 1 and 2. At level 3, the leakage of the group using lateral condensation with standard master cone was significantly higher than that of the group using continuous wave of obturation(p<0.05). The results of this study suggested that the obturation method using customized master cone or the continuous wave of obturation is more effective for apical sealing than that using standardized master cone when MAF is larger than ＃50.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.390-398
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical fitness of non-standardized gutta-percha cones in root canals prepared with rotary Ni-Ti root canal instruments of various tapers and apical tip sizes. Simulated sixty curved root canals of plastic blocks were prepared with crown-down technique using rotary root canal instruments of Maillefer ProFile$^{(R)}$ .04 and .06 taper (Maillefer Instrument SA, Switzerland). Specimens were divided into six groups and prepared as follows: Group 1, prepared up to size 25 of .04 taper ; Group 2, prepared up to size 30 of .04 taper ; Group 3, prepared up to size 35 of .04 taper ; Group 4, prepared up to size 25 of .06 taper ; Group 5, prepared up to size 30 of .06 taper ; Group 6 ; prepared up to size 35 of .06 taper. After cutting off the coronal portion of plastic, blocks perpendicular to the long axis of the canal with the use of a diamond saw, apical 5mm of canal space was analyzed. Prepared apical canal spaces were duplicated using rubber base impression material to evaluate two dimensional total area of apical canal space. Various sized gutta-percha cones were applied in the 5mm-apical canal space, which were size 25, size 30 and size 35 standardized gutta-percha cone, Diadent Dia-Pro ISO-.04$^{TM}$ and .06$^{TM}$(Diadent, Korea), and medium-fine (MF), fine (F), fine-medium (FM) and medium (M) sized non-standardized gutta-percha cones (Diadent, Korea). Coronal excess gutta-percha were cut off with a sharp blade. Photographs of impressed apical canal spaces and gutta-percha cones were taken with a CCD camera under a stereomicroscope and stored in a computer. Areas of the total canal space and gutta-percha cones were calculated using a digitalized image analysing program, CompuScope (Sungjin Multimedia Co., Korea). Ratio of apical fitness was obtained by calculating the area of gutta-percha cone to the total area of the canal space. The data were analysed statistically using One-way Analysis of Variance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The results were as follows: 1. In canals prepared up to size 25 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .04 taper, non-standardized MF and F cones occupied significantly more canal space than Dia-Pro ISO-.04$^{TM}$ or size 25 standardized ones (p<0.05). 2. In canals prepared up to size 30 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .04 taper, non-standardized F cones occupied significantly more canal space than Dia-Pro ISO-.04$^{TM}$ or size 30 standardized ones (p<0.05), and non-standardized MF cones occupied more canal space than size 30 standardized ones (p<0.05). 3. In canals prepared up to size 35 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .04 taper, there was no significant difference in canal space occupation among non-standardized MF and F, size 35 standardized, and Dia-Pro ISO-.04$^{TM}$ cones (p>0.05). 4. In canals prepared up to size 25 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .06 taper, non-standardized MF and F cones occupied significantly more canal space than Dia-Pro ISO-.06$^{TM}$, or size 25 standardized ones (p<0.05), and Dia-Pro ISO-.06$^{TM}$, cones occupied significantly more space than size 25 standardized ones (p<0.05). 5. In canals prepared up to size 30 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .06 taper, non-standardized FM cones occupied significantly more canal space than Dia-Pro ISO-.06$^{TM}$ or size 30 standardized ones (p<0.05), and non-standardized F cones occupied significantly more canal space than size 30 standardized ones (p<0.05). 6. In canals prepared up to size 35 ProFile$^{(R)}$ of .06 taper, non-standardized M and FM, Dia-Pro ISO-.06$^{TM}$ occupied significantly more canal space than size 35 standardized ones (p<0.05). In summary, in both canals prepared with .04 or .06 taper ProFile$^{(R)}$, non-standardized cones showed better fitness than Dia-Pro ISO$^{TM}$ or standardized ones, which was more characteristic in smaller canals.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.332-341
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• 2017

Objectives: To determine the incidence of crack formation and propagation in apical root dentin after retreatment procedures performed using ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTR), Mtwo-R, ProTaper Next (PTN), and Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) systems. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 120 extracted mandibular premolars. One millimeter from the apex of each tooth was ground perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth, and the apical surface was polished. Twenty teeth served as the negative control group. One hundred teeth were prepared, obturated, and then divided into 5 retreatment groups. The retreatment procedures were performed using the following files: PTR, Mtwo-R, PTN, TFA, and hand files. After filling material removal, apical enlargement was done using apical size 0.50 mm ProTaper Universal (PTU), Mtwo, PTN, TFA, and hand files. Digital images of the apical root surfaces were recorded before preparation, after preparation, after obturation, after filling removal, and after apical enlargement using a stereomicroscope. The images were then inspected for the presence of new apical cracks and crack propagation. Data were analyzed with ${\chi}^2$ tests using SPSS 21.0 software. Results: New cracks and crack propagation occurred in all the experimental groups during the retreatment process. Nickel-titanium rotary file systems caused significantly more apical crack formation and propagation than the hand files. The PTU system caused significantly more apical cracks than the other groups after the apical enlargement stage. Conclusions: This study showed that retreatment procedures and apical enlargement after the use of retreatment files can cause crack formation and propagation in apical dentin.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.31.1-31.7
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• 2018

Despite considerable focus on the regenerative endodontic treatment of immature teeth with necrotic infected pulps and apical periodontitis, little data exist with regard to its possible implementation in necrotic permanent teeth with complete apical and radicular development. The present report describes the procedures and outcome of a regenerative endodontic treatment approach in 2 previously-traumatized incisors with closed apex with apical periodontitis. A 2-visit treatment procedure was employed. At initial visit, the root canals were copiously irrigated, followed by placement of a triple antibiotic paste containing ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and clindamycin into the root canals. After 4 weeks, the antibiotic paste was removed, and apical bleeding was initiated with size 10 hand files beyond the apices. The root canals were coronally sealed with mineral trioxide aggregate, and the access cavities were restored with bonded resin composite. At post-operative 60 months, both teeth were remained asymptomatic, with the recall radiographs showing complete resolution of apical radiolucency and reestablishment of periradicular tissues. In both teeth, the dimensions of root space remained unchanged as verified by image analysis. The revitalization protocol utilizing root canal disinfection and induced apical bleeding in necrotic, closed-apex incisors may offer a clinically acceptable alternative to conventional root canal treatment.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.323-332
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• 2006

Mitochondrial distribution and abundance were assessed during the growth of apical and subapical cells in the red algae Colaconema caespitosum (J. Agardh) Jackelman, Stegenga and Bolton and Antithamnion cruciatum (C. Agardh) Nägeli after staining with 3,3’-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide [DiOC6(3)] and 2,4’-dimethylaminostyryl-Nethylpyridinium iodide (DASPEI). In fully elongate apical cells of C. caespitosum there were 100-120 mitochondria. During apical cell enlargement and division there is a doubling and then halving of the mitochondrial numbers. Apical cells prior to cytokinesis in young filaments are smaller than in mature filaments (ca. 50 and 100 μm long, respectively) and have fewer mitochondria (ca. 100 and 120 mitochondria per cell, respectively). In older vegetative cells mitochondria tend to aggregate at opposite ends of the cells with some mitochondria associated with the central nucleus or at points of apparent branch initiation. There is a greater density of mitochondria in apical cells of smaller versus larger plants (one mitochondrion per 6.3 μm3 and 9.8 μm3, respectively), suggesting that apical cells of younger plants may be more metabolically active. Male and female gametophytic thalli of Antithamnion cruciatum had similar numbers of mitochondria in apical cells of indeterminate axes, as did gametophytic and sporophytic thalli. There were about 40-50 mitochondria in fully elongated apical cells with about half this number in newly divided apical and subapical cells. Apical cells of determinate branches had more mitochondria (60-77) than indeterminate branches (60-70 vs. 40-50). In both species and in all cell types mitochondrial numbers were highly correlated with cell size.