None of the materials were able to prevent microleakage in all specimens. Vidrion R and Scotch Bond demonstrated the poorest results when used as barriers to coronal microleakage, whilst IRM and Coltosol were significantly better in preventing microleakage.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical outcomes of root canal treatments performed by final-year students in the Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas, SP, Brazil, during the year 2000 and to evaluate the success rate of these treatments at follow-ups conducted one and three years later (2001-03). All 579 endodontic treatments performed by final-year students were selected for this investigation. Detailed personal and dental history was obtained from the patient's records. Clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations were performed. For 78.8 percent of the cases, dental caries was recorded as the cause for performing endodontic treatment; for 8.8 percent, prosthetic reasons were given; and for 12.4 percent, failure of the endodontic treatment was the reason. The largest percentage (30.7 percent) of recalled patients was examined after one year; the success rate at this follow-up evaluation ranged from 83 percent to 96 percent depending on the pulp status prior to the root canal treatment. After three years, only 8 percent of treated patients returned; assessment for them revealed a 75.5 percent success rate. Dental caries is still the main reason for endodontic treatment. This level of success of the root canal treatment in a Brazilian dental school is similar to other reports in the literature.

The aim of this study was to radiographically investigate the presence of root canal ramifications found after endodontic treatment, and to determine any relationship between their presence and the type of the auxiliary chemical substance used. The study evaluated 1,470 endodontic treatments performed by final year undergraduate students at the Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil, during the period from 1998 to 2000. The X-rays taken during treatment were evaluated in order to establish the presence of ramifications of the root canal system. The initial X-ray did not show the presence of any canal ramifications. After filling, X-rays showed only 3 ramification types: 3.06% of lateral canals, 2.99% of apical deltas, and 0.1% of interradicular canals. The maxillary premolars showed the highest number of lateral canals (n = 13), followed by mandibular premolars (n = 10) and maxillary incisors (n = 10). Apical deltas were mostly found in mandibular molars (n = 14), followed by maxillary incisors (n = 9). Only mandibular molars had interradicular canals. The detection of ramifications increased with the use of EDTA. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between the type of auxiliary chemical substance used and the number of root canal ramifications detected after root canal filling. It was concluded that the frequency of root canal ramifications found radiographically was low in treatments performed by undergraduate students.

No abstract

Dedico este trabalho... ... à minha filha Anara De Quadros Albuquerque Gonçalez, que através de sua vida pude assimilar a verdadeira pureza e grandiosidade do amor em meu coração; ... ao meu esposo Ebranit Albuquerque Gonçalez, que com seu amor e carinho esteve sempre ao meu lado incentivando, encorajando e colaborando; ... aos meus pais Jacinto Quadros Júnior e Iacy Quadros, cujo empenho, exemplo de vida, participação e estímulo foram imprescindíveis para minhas realizações e conquistas; ... à minha irmã Halide De Quadros Ohde, cunhado Flávio Ohde e sobrinha Isabela De Quadros Ohde pela alegria dos momentos de convívio e incentivo; ... aos meus sogros Edson Juarez Gonçalez e Onésia Albuquerque Pitta Gonçalez pela ajuda incansável e respeito. v AGRADEÇO A DEUS. vi À minha orientadora, Profa. Dra. Brenda Paula Figueiredo de Almeida Gomes, pelos ensinamentos, incentivo, paciência incansável, dedicação e confiança. Com carinho agradeço à amiga e família pela alegria do convívio. Ao Prof. Dr. Luiz Valdrighi pela amizade, confiança, ensinamentos passados com solicitude, representando um exemplo de profissionalismo e de vida. Agradeço ainda a oportunidade do convívio em família, onde a alegria e respeito são exemplares. Ao Prof. Dr. Francisco José de Souza Filho pelo incentivo, pela oportunidade e colaboração inestimável nas revisões deste trabalho.