Although benefiting from an unprecedented technological evolution, contemporary endodontics is still characterized by the recurrence of retreatments, due to the need to solve quite frequent incidents, accidents, or even failures of primary endodontic treatment. This survey aims to assess both the etiology and the prevention methods of one of the most troublesome endodontic iatrogenies: instrument separation during root canal shaping. The multifactorial nature of this occurrence entails identifying and taking into account all the causal and contributing factors. Their significant number and the possible involvement of any of them, starting with the complexity and variability of the root canals and ending with the technical specifications concerning the nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation system being used, highlight the necessity to develop valid guidelines to avert the occurring of such an upsetting situation.

This study aims to determine whether the design of resin posts reinforced with glass fiber (FRC) and Reporfost (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) significantly improves the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored through this method.A batch of 30 maxillary monoradicular teeth (15 central incisors, 15 canines) were treated endodontically by step-back technique (apical enlargement 40-K file) sealed with Sealapex (Kerr Corporation, Orange, US) and gutta-percha by lateral condensation, cold. They were divided into two equal groups, prepared for cementing the FRC posts. The Exacto posts (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) in group 1 and the Reforpost posts (Angelus; Londrina; PR, Brazil) were cemented with dual cure resin cement Breeze Self-Adhesive Resin Cement (Pentron Clinical, Orange, US). Fracture resistance testing was performed on the crown-apical axial direction, using the Hounsfield / Tinius Olsen H1-KS, PA, USA mechanical testing apparatus. The behavior of each tooth-post assembly was recorded as a graph. The statistical analysis was done using one way ANOVA (α=0.05). The differences between the Exacto post group and the Reforpost post group are not statistically significant (p = 0.466). The maximum force recorded was 970 N and the minimum 186N. The mean force at which the fracture occurred was approximately 500N for both groups. The strain test showed that modifying the Reforpost post design did not improve the fracture resistance parameters of the tooth-post assembly through increasing the surface friction or maintaining adhesion to the walls of the root dentin.

This in vitro study evaluated the effects of dentifrices containing nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) on dentinal tubule occlusion and on mineral deposition. Dentin specimens of ten human teeth were submersed for 30 s in 40% citric acid and then randomly divided into four groups (three study groups and one control group). In the study groups, the dentin samples were exposed to three different n-HAp toothpastes: Karex (Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, Germany), Biorepair Plus Sensitive (Coswell SpA, Bologna, Italy), and Dr. Wolff’s Biorepair (Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, Germany); in the control group no toothpaste was applied. All of the samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. In the control group all of the samples showed a frank and wide opening of the dentinal tubules, whereas in the study groups different degrees of tubule closure by mineral depositions were observed. Toothpastes containing n-HAp determined a significant occlusion of dentinal tubules and a significant increase of mineral deposition on the dentin surface. All three tested toothpastes showed similar results regarding the degree of dentinal tubule closure. Varying degrees of differences in calcium, phosphate, carbon, and oxygen ion concentrations among the three tested toothpastes were obtained.

The aim of the study was to assess the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of elderly in care homes, one of Romania’s most vulnerable social categories, to correlate it to sociodemographic, oral health parameters, and prosthodontic status. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was performed on 58 geriatrics divided into 3 age groups, who were clinically examined and answered the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Very high rates of complete edentulism in the oldest-old subgroup (bimaxillary in 64.3%; mandibular in 64.3%; maxillary in 85.7%), and alarming frequencies in the other subgroups (middle-old and youngest-old), statistically significant differences between age groups being determined. The OHIP-14 mean score was 14.5. Although not statistically significant, females had higher OHIP-14 scores, also middle-old with single maxillary arch, single mandibular arch, and bimaxillary complete edentulism, whether they wore dentures or not, but especially those without dental prosthetic treatment in the maxilla. A worse OHRQoL was also observed in wearers of bimaxillary complete dentures, in correlation with periodontal disease-related edentulism, in those with tertiary education degree, and those who came from rural areas. There were no statistically significant correlations of OHRQoL with age, total number of edentulous spaces or edentulous spaces with no prosthetic treatment. In conclusion, despite poor oral health and prosthetic status of the institutionalized elderly around Bucharest, the impact on their wellbeing is comparatively moderate.

(1) Background: What is the effect of 16% and 40% concentration bleaching agents on dental structures in healthy patients compared to predialysis patients? (2) Methods: Forty teeth were included in the study (20 from healthy patients and 20 from predialysis patients). Each group was randomly divided into another two subgroups (n-10), depending on the bleaching agent concentration (16% and 40% gels). Color parameters were registered before and after the whitening process using a spectrophotometer. To determine enamel ultramicroscopic modifications, SEM and AFM analysis were performed before and after bleaching. (3) Results: An increasing trend was identified in the average values of ∆E and ∆L within the groups of predialysis teeth between teeth whitened with 40% concentration gel and those whitened with 16% concentration gel, while for the enamel samples from healthy patients the trend was reversed. The average values for roughness in the case of the two bleaching agents in healthy and predialysis teeth presented statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The effects of bleaching agents are less significant on teeth from predialysis compared to healthy patients. A direct link exists in terms of the clinical effect between the concentration of the whitening gel and color modifications.