Diagnosis and root canal treatment in a mandibular premolar with three canals

This paper presents a case report of a left mandibular second premolar with three canals and three different apical foramina. A 39-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with pain in the mandibular left second premolar. Initially, pain was caused by cold stimulus and later was spontaneously. The intraoral clinical examination revealed a fractured amalgam restoration with occlusal caries. Percussion and cold (Endo-Frost) tests were positive. The radiographic examination showed the presence of two roots. The probable diagnosis was an acute pulpitis. After access cavity, it was observed remaining roof of the pulp chamber and mild bleeding in the tooth lingual area, indicating the possible presence of a third canal. The endodontic treatment was completed in a single session using Root ZX apex locator and K3 NiTi rotary system with surgical diameter corresponding to a .02/45 file in the three canals and irrigation with 1% sodium hypochlorite. The canals were obtured with gutta-percha cones and Sealer 26 using the lateral condensation technique. After 1 year of follow-up, the tooth was asymptomatic and periapical repair was observed radiographically. Internal alterations should be considered during the endodontic treatment of mandibular second premolars. The correct diagnosis of these alterations by the analysis of preoperative radiographs can help the location of two or more canals, thereby avoiding root therapy failure.O presente artigo teve como objetivo a apresentação de um caso clínico de um segundo pré-molar inferior esquerdo com três canais com três forames distintos. Paciente de 39 anos de idade, leucoderma, relatava dor inicialmente estimulada ao frio e posteriormente dor espontânea no referido dente. No exame intraoral foi constatada restauração de amálgama fraturada e cárie oclusal. Os testes de sensibilidade à percussão e ao frio (Endo-Frost) foram positivos. O exame radiográfico evidenciou a presença de duas raízes. O diagnóstico provável foi de pulpite aguda. Após o preparo de acesso à câmara pulpar notou-se a presença de teto remanescente e um leve sangramento, sendo possível localizar um terceiro canal na região lingual. O tratamento endodôntico foi realizado em uma única sessão, com auxílio do localizador apical Root ZX, e o preparo biomecânico com sistema rotatório com limas de NiTi K3 com diâmetro cirúrgico correspondente ao instrumento .02/45 nos três canais, e a solução química auxiliar hipoclorito de sódio 1%. A obturação foi realizada por condensação lateral de guta-percha e cimento Sealer26. Durante o período de proservação de 1 ano, o dente apresentou-se clinicamente assintomático com reparação dos tecidos periapicais observada radiograficamente. Alterações internas devem ser consideradas durante tratamento endodôntico em segundos pré-molares inferiores. O correto diagnóstico destas alterações por meio da análise de radiografias pré-operatórias podem auxiliar na localização de dois ou mais canais, evitando dessa maneira o insucesso do tratamento a ser realizado

Comparison of different ultrasonic vibration modes for post removal

This in vitro study compared different ultrasonic vibration modes for intraradicular cast post removal. The crowns of 24 maxillary canines were removed, the roots were embedded in acrylic resin blocks, and the canals were treated endodontically. The post holes were prepared and root canal impressions were taken with self-cured resin acrylic. After casting, the posts were cemented with zinc phosphate cement. The samples were randomly distributed into 3 groups (n=8): G1: no ultrasonic vibration (control); G2: tip of the ultrasonic device positioned perpendicularly to core surface and close to the incisal edge; and G3: tip of the ultrasonic device positioned perpendicularly to core surface at cervical region, close to the line of cementation. An Enac OE-5 ultrasound unit with an ST-09 tip was used. All samples were submitted to the tensile test using an universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests (α=0.05). Mean values of the load to dislodge the posts (MPa) were: G1 = 4.6 (± 1.4) A; G2 = 2.8 (± 0.9) B, and G3= 0.9 (± 0.3) C. Therefore, the ultrasonic vibration applied with the tip of device close to the core's cervical area showed higher ability to reduce the retention of cast post to root canal