Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of different endodontic sealers against Enterococcus Faecalis: An in-vitro study

Aim: The aim and objective of this invitro study was to determine antimicrobial activity of root canal sealer (AH Plus, Sealapex, MTA Fillapex) against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: Three different commercially available root canal sealers namely - AH-Plus (Dentsply), MTA Fillapex (Angelus, bioceramic sealer) and Sealapex sealer (Kerr) were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against Enterococcus faecalis (E.faecalis )using agar diffusion method. Wells were formed in the agar plates by removing agar at equal distance and then, filled with the endodontic sealers- AH Plus, Sealapex and MTA Fillapex. Standard antibiotic disc of co-trimoxazole was kept as a control. Petri dishes were inoculated at 37 ℃ at a time interval of 24 and 48 hours. The diameter of growth of inhibition zone were measured by using Antibiotic zone scale (HIMEDIA). The difference between the groups were evaluated by one -way ANOVA and intergroup evaluation was done by Tukey’s post hic test. Result: AH-Plus sealer showed larger zone of inhibition as compared to sealapex and MTA Fillapex sealer against E.faecalis at 24 and 48 hours. Co- trimoxazole used as control exhibited the highest antimicrobial efficacy against E.faecalis at 24 and 48 hour. MTA Fillapex showed least antimicrobial action

Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of calcium silicate-based materials with or without platelet-rich fibrin as a pulpotomy medicament in human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: A randomized clinical trial

Aim: This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with MTA, and PRF with Biodentine as pulpotomy medicament in the permanent molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis clinically and radiographically. Materials and Methods: Sixty permanent first molars with a carious exposed tooth showing signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis with caries extending >2/3rd of dentin, but no signs of pulpal necrosis, were randomly allocated in four groups, and full pulpotomy was performed using MTA, Biodentine, PRF with MTA, and PRF with Biodentine as pulpotomy agents. The clinical and radiographic assessment was done after 24 h, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months postoperatively. Nonparametric tests, including Kruskal–Wallis, Friedman test, and Chi-square test, were used for repeated measures among the biomaterials. For pair-wise comparison of subgroups, the Wilcoxon sum-rank test was used. Results: The clinical success rate was 90.5% at a 9-month interval. There was a nonsignificant result among all the groups (P < 0.05), and all agents were equally effective in providing pain relief at all the intervals tested. No significant difference was observed between the radiographic success rates observed among the groups (P = 0.089 at 6 months and P = 0.095 at 9 months). Conclusion: Pulpotomy dressing agents used proved to be a success in mature permanent teeth with carious exposure with clinical signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis

Effect of ultrasonic agitation on the penetration depth of different root canal sealers: An in vitro study

Aim: The present in vitro study was taken to compare penetration depth of five different root canal sealers to radicular dentin by confocal laser scanning microscope. Materials and Methods: 100 extracted intact single- rooted human teeth were collected. Teeth were decoronated, shaping and cleaning was done with rotary file system till #25 number file with 0.06% taper. Half of the samples (n=50) were irrigated without ultrasonic agitation while other half (n=50) samples were irrigated with ultrasonically agitation. Teeth were obturated and divided into five groups on the basis of five different sealer used (Group A: Zinc oxide eugenol sealer (control group), Group B: Apexit Plus, Group C: AH Plus, Group D: MTA Fillapex, Group E: Bio-C sealer). Samples were sectioned horizontally at 2mm, 4mm and 6mm from the apical region and penetration depth was observed under confocal laser scanning microscope. Data obtained was statistically analysed using Independent t test and Tukey Test. Results: Among the groups, Bio- C sealer (Group E) revealed greatest penetration depth at 2mm and 4mm while zinc oxide eugenol (Group A) had the least penetration depth. Among the subgroups, samples irrigated with ultrasonic agitation showed rise in penetration depth of the sealers.&nbsp

Comparative Evaluation of Apical Debris Extrusion from the Root Canal using Hand Files, Continuous Rotary Files and Reciprocating File System: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: Root canal preparation is an important step of endodontic therapy. For successful endodontic therapy apical extrusion of debris through the apical foramen into the periradicular region should be minimal to avoid postoperative complication such as flare-ups. Aim: To evaluate in-vitro, extrusion of apical debris from the root canal using continuous rotary files (using multiple files system and single rotary file system), reciprocating file system and hand files. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro research was carried out in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, MM college of Dental Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India, from November 2017 to January 2018. A total of 120 human mandibular premolar teeth that were caries free and single-rooted were split into four groups (each group with n=30) Group I: Hand ProTaper, Group II: Protaper Universal, Group III: F360 and Group IV: WaveOne Gold file system. The root canal was instrumented according to manufacturer’s Instructions; and standardised irrigation with distilled water was performed. The Myers and Montgomery’s Model was employed to gather irrigant and debris that had been apically ejected. The analysis of data obtained was done using Post-hoc Bonferroni test, Oneway Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and paired t-test. Results: The findings indicate that all instrumentation techniques produced significant amount of extruded debris and irrigant. The mean apical debris extrusion using the One-way ANOVA test showed significant difference (p-value<0.001). WaveOne Gold file group showed least (0.0005±0.0001 mg) and Hand ProTaper file showed maximum (0.0017±0.0002) apical debris and irrigant extrusion. Conclusion: Less apical extrusion of irrigant and debris was observed in the engine-driven nickel-titanium systems than manual technique. Reciprocating file system when compared with hand and continuous rotary file system showed less debris extrusion