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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the recommendations of General Dentists (GD) and Pediatric Dentists (PD) on the use of fluoride dentifrice by children are in agreement with the recommendations given in dental association guidelines. Methods: A questionnaire with 11 questions was applied to GD and PD. Questions were about professional performance, as well as type and amount of dentifrices recommended according to the child's age. The way information was conveyed to patients and caregivers was also evaluated. The analysis of the associations between responses and professional training were performed using the Chi-square or Fisher's Exact tests. Results: 354 professionals filled out the questionnaire. The final response rates were 68% for GD and 85% for PD. GD had more recommendations that differ from those found in the guidelines than PD. Conclusion: There is still divergence between the guidelines recommended by dental associations with those of GD and PD. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct educational campaigns for all professionals in the oral health area.

Objectives: High expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in periapical lesions plays an important role in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. This study aimed to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-based endodontic paste as an intracanal dressing on the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in periapical lesions. Materials and Methodss: Periapical lesions were experimentally induced in 35 mature beagle dog premolars randomly divided into healthy teeth, untreated periapical lesions, periapical lesionstreated in a single session, and periapical lesions treated in two sessions with EGCG or calcium hydroxide-based pastes. The operator monitored the animals and performed euthanasia after 120 days for histopathologic and immunofluorescence analyses to assess the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Then we perform the statistical analysis. Results: Endodontic treatment in two sessions using EGCG and calcium hydroxide-based pastes provided similar levels of repair of the apical and periapical tissues and neoformation of periodontal ligament fibers, cementum and alveolar bone. In both groups, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was minimal,and it was observed in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, cementoblasts, cementocytes and vascular endothelium. In healthy teeth, the expression of MMPs was minimal and was found in odontoblasts. Endodontic treatment in a single session did not result in full repair of periapical lesions, and they presented intense expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, including in the cytoplasm of persistent inflammatory cells, similar to untreated lesions. In both groups treated in two sessions, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was similar to that in healthy teeth, and it was significantly lower than that in periapical lesions treated in a single session or untreated (p <0.001). Conclusions: The use of EGCG-based endodontic paste reduced the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and allowed for the repair of periapical lesions, similar to calcium hydroxide-based paste, and it was superior to treatment performed in a single session. Clinical Relevance: This study was the first one that evaluated the use of EGCG- based paste as intracanal treatment resulted in a reduction of the expression of MMPs 2 and 9 and repair of periapical lesions, similarly to calcium hydroxide-based paste.

Objective: To evaluate the periapical healing following root canal treatment in teeth with apical periodontitis (in vivo) and the cytotoxic potential of root canal sealers in vitro. Material and Methods: Apical periodontitis was induced in 60 dogs' teeth and root canals were filled with Sealapex (40 roots), EndoREZ (40 roots), intracanal dressing (20 roots), or left untreated (20 roots). After 30 and 90 days, histopathological analyses were made. In vitro, J774.1 macrophages were stimulated with root canal sealers extracts, cytotoxicity was assessed using lactate dehydrogenase assay, and qRT-PCR was used to analyze TNF-α gene expression. Results: In vivo, smaller apical periodontitis and lower inflammatory cell infiltrate were found in teeth treated with Sealapex compared to EndoREZ. In vitro, EndoREZ was cytotoxic and induced TNF-α gene expression by macrophages differently from Sealapex. Conclusion: Sealapex allowed improved tissue repair following root canal treatment in teeth with apical periodontitis compared to EndoREZ. Synthesis of TNF-α induced by LPS was enhanced by EndoREZ, whereas Sealapex prevented pro-inflammatory gene expression.