Information concerning the anatomy of the physiological foramen is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the distance between the physiological and anatomical apex, accessory foramina frequency, and the shape and diameter of the physiological foramen in maxillary and mandibular molars. The apical anatomy of 523 maxillary and 574 mandibular molars from an Egyptian population was investigated by means of a computer-aided stereomicroscope (40 x magnification). The following results were obtained:

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological compatibility of five root canal sealers (Sealapex, Endion, Super-EBA, Ketac-Endo, and AH Plus) and regular and calcium hydroxide-based gutta-percha in three different human cell lines. Cultures without root canal sealers were used as controls. Cell growth, cell morphology, cell viability, protein content of the cells, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release were used as parameters to determine the cytotoxicity of the materials. The protein content of the three cell lines--nasal fibroblasts, gingival fibroblasts, and epithelial tumor cells--was significantly reduced (p < or = 0.001) by all materials tested. Determinations of PGE2 release showed significant material specific differences. No significant increased PGE2 release values were found with Sealapex, Endion, and Super-EBA. On the contrary significantly increased PGE2 levels were measured with Ketac Endo, AH Plus, regular and calcium hydroxide-based gutta-percha points (p < or = 0.001).

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