Purpose. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the quality of four root canal obturation techniques using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Materials and Methods. A total of 36 mandibular first premolars with mostly round canals were decoronated, then instrumented up to a size F3 rotary file, and dressed with an epoxy resin-based sealer. Subsequently, they were divided into 4 different groups ( n = 9 ) based on the method of obturation: lateral condensation using 0.02 tapered master cone (LC2), lateral condensation using 0.04 tapered master cone (LC4), matched single-cone technique (MS), and matched single cone-mediated ultrasonic activation (MSUA). All the teeth were scanned using micro-CT (resolution of 19 μm), and the percentage volume of voids was calculated. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey test were used to analyze the data ( α = 0.05 ). Results. The total percentage volume of voids was significantly lower in the MSUA group compared to all other groups ( P < 0.05 ). The total percentage volume of voids was significantly lower in the MS group compared to the LC4 ( P < 0.001 ) and LC2 ( P < 0.001 ) groups. However, there was no significant difference between the LC2 and LC4 groups ( P < 0.65 ). Conclusions. MSUA, significantly, showed the least root canal filling voids amongst all the obturation techniques studied. MSUA can be considered an effective method for the filling of the round root canals. In general, lateral condensation using either 0.02 or 0.04 tapered master cones had significantly the highest volume percentage of voids amongst the experimental groups.

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Background. Internal bleaching is a choice of treatment in discolored endodontically treated teeth. Cervical root resorption is one of the important complications of this treatment. A suggested procedure to prevent this type of resorption is using a coronal barrier under the bleaching materials. The aim of the study was to compare the microleakage of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement, and Biodentine. Materials and Methods. In this in vitro study, a total of 60 single canal incisors were included. They were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n = 16), one positive control group (n = 6), and one negative control group (n = 6). Coronal portion of the canals in the experimental groups was sealed with 3 mm of MTA, CEM cement, or Biodentine as a coronal barrier. After 3 days, specimens were bleached. A fresh Enterococcus faecalis suspension was added to the samples. The culture tubes were observed for 45 days, and the daily turbidity was recorded. Statistical analysis was accomplished by the Kaplan–Meier test and SPSS 22. Results. All positive samples showed turbidity, whereas none of the negative samples allowed bacterial leakage. Results showed no significant difference between MTA, CEM cement, and Biodentine groups. ( P value = 0.304, 0.695, and 0.217). The bacterial microleakage for the two groups also did not show significant differences. Conclusions. CEM cement and Biodentine showed promising results as coronal plug, and clinical studies are needed to test these materials with MTA for avoiding microleakage in internal bleaching treatment.

Calcium hydroxide (CH) is the gold-standard intracanal dressing for teeth subjected to traumatic avulsion. A common complication after the replantation of avulsed teeth is root resorption (RR). The current review was conducted to compare the effect of CH with that of other intracanal medications and filling materials on inflammatory RR and replacement RR (ankylosis) in replanted teeth. The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched through June 2018 using specific keywords related to the title of the present article. The materials that were compared to CH were in 2 categories: 1) mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and endodontic sealers as permanent filling materials for single-visit treatment, and 2) Ledermix, bisphosphonates, acetazolamide, indomethacin, gallium nitrate, and enamel matrix-derived protein (Emdogain) as intracanal medicaments for multiple-visit management of avulsed teeth prior to the final obturation. MTA can be used as a single-visit root filling material; however, there are limited data on its efficacy due to a lack of clinical trials. Ledermix and acetazolamide were comparable to CH in reducing RR. Emdogain seems to be an interesting material, but the data supporting its use as an intracanal medication remain very limited. The conclusions drawn in this study were limited by the insufficiency of clinical trials.

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