Endodontic sealers after exposure to chlorhexidine digluconate:An assessment of physicochemical properties

Objectives Final root canal irrigation should ideally maintain the physicochemical stability of root canal sealers. We seek to assess the effect of contact with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) on the physicochemical properties of AH Plus, BioRoot™ RCS, and Pulp Canal Sealer (PCS). Methods Mixed sealers were placed in cylindrical teflon molds and allowed to set for 1.5x the manufacturers’ setting time. Half of the specimens had their free surface in contact with CHX for the first minute of their setting period. Solubility, radiopacity, surface roughness, microhardness and wettability of the sealers were assessed up to 28 days after setting. Elemental analysis of sealer surfaces and their leachates together with pH measurements were also performed. Appropriate parametric and non-parametric analysis with post hoc tests were performed (p < 0.05). Results Exposure to CHX had no effect on solubility and radiopacity of all sealers. CHX altered the surface roughness of PCS and BioRoot RCS (p < 0.05). Contact with CHX reduced the microhardness of AH Plus and PCS (p < 0.05). AH Plus was more hydrophilic after CHX contact, whereas PCS became more hydrophobic (p < 0.05). AH Plus and PCS surfaces appeared to adsorb CHX as exhibited by chlorine peaks after contact with CHX. Sealer leachates’ alkalinity was not affected. CHX increased elution of silicon and zirconium for BioRoot and zinc for PCS leachates. Significance In our study, CHX affected sealers’ physicochemical properties to various extents. Further studies are needed to confirm the obtained results by investigating various final irrigation strategies and correlating to biological properties

Effect of chlorhexidine digluconate on antimicrobial activity, cell viability and physicochemical properties of three endodontic sealers

ObjectiveAssess the biological and physicochemical properties of AH Plus, BioRoot RCS and Pulp Canal Sealer (PCS) leachates with and without chlorhexidine (CHX).MethodsThe sealers were studied in no contact and 1-minute contact with CHX. For biological properties (antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity), leachates were formed in saline of freshly mixed, 1-, 7- and 28 days set sealers. The antibacterial properties of sealer leachates were investigated for planktonic and biofilm growth of E. faecalis, S. mutans, S.epidermidis and S.aureus. The 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazolyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate murine fibroblast cell viability after exposure to the leachates. The physical properties (water uptake, sorption, solubility, porosity, surface characteristics) of sealers and the pH of the immersion liquid (saline or distilled water) were also assessed over a 28-days period.ResultsCHX improved the antibacterial properties of the sealer leachates and reduced cell viability for all sealer leachates, except for freshly mixed PCS. BioRoot RCS leachates presented the highest antibacterial properties and cell viability with and without CHX contact. PCS was the material most affected by CHX in terms of physical properties, whereas for AH Plus, solubility was increased. CHX did not affect the physical properties of BioRoot RCS, except for solubility that was decreased. CHX contact did not change sealers’ alkalinity in distilled water whereas it increased it for AH Plus and BioRoot RCS in saline.SignificanceCHX improved the antibacterial efficacy of sealer leachates and either compromised or did not affect cell viability. CHX affected to various extent sealers’ physicochemical properties

Validation of contralateral premolars as the substrate for endodontic comparison studies

AIM: To use micro-CT technology and metrology software to validate the use of contralateral premolars as samples in endodontic comparison studies by comparing them before and after canal instrumentation with one instrumentation system. Furthermore, to determine if contralateral premolar roots will yield non-significantly different outcomes regarding shaping ability (volume), degree of twisting, and three-dimensional shape changes. The null-hypothesis (H0 ) is that there are no differences between the contralateral premolar roots pre- or post-instrumentation. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-eight extracted human contralateral premolars (n=44 contralateral roots) from 12 donor patients were scanned with microcomputed tomography before and after instrumentation. Root canal lengths (RCL) were measured visually using a dental operating microscope, electronic apex locator, and micro-CT scans. Data were analyzed statistically for differences between pre- and post-instrumentation. RESULTS: Instrumentation increased the volume of the canals significantly (P0.05). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the shape deviation analysis between contralateral pairs. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) for root canal length between the contralateral pairs for any of the three endometric methods. CONCLUSION: Contralateral premolar root canals were associated with similar changes in terms of volume, three-dimensional shape, and degree of twisting from pre- to post-instrumentation. There was no difference between the contralateral premolar root pairs pre- and post-instrumentation, and the study validates contralateral premolars as samples for root canal comparison studies. The null-hypothesis (H0 ) could not be rejected. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Johnsen GF, Sunde PT, Haugen HJ. Validation of contralateral premolars as the substrate for endodontic comparison studies. International Endodontic Journal. which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.12902. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

Effects of an individualized training course on technical quality and periapical status of teeth treated endodontically by dentists in the Public Dental Service in Norway. An observational intervention study

Aim: To investigate the effect of a continuing education course on technical quality and treatment outcome for root filled permanent teeth in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway. Methodology: Fifty-two dentists employed in the Public Dental Service in Møre and Romsdal county, Norway, completed a two-day continuing education course in root canal treatment. Periapical radiographs of root filled teeth treated before and after the course, with at least one-year follow-up were identified and scored for technical quality and periapical status. Technical root filling quality was assessed by density and length and the treatment outcome by PAI scores. Treatment information was achieved from the county's electronic dental record system. Information regarding the dental practitioners' background and treatment procedure routines was collected by a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics analyses and mixed-effect logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of the course. Results: Radiographs were available for 224 teeth root filled before and for 221 teeth after the course. The proportion of teeth with adequate root filling quality was significantly lower after the course (p =0.006), associated mainly with short root fillings (p 18 years. Conclusions: A two-day continuing education course in root canal treatment attended by Public Dental Service dentists in Norway did not improve the technical quality of root fillings or periapical status associated with root filled teeth. Keywords: apical periodontitis; continuing education; endodontics; general dental practitioner; reciprocating technique; root filling quality

Surface characteristics and bacterial adhesion of endodontic cements

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of inclusion of silver nano-particles (SNP) or bioactive glass (BG) on the surface characteristics and bacterial adhesion of prototype tricalcium silicate (TCS)–based cements alongside two commercial cements, under different aging periods and exposure conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A basic formulation of radio-opacified TCS without (TZ-base) and with additions of SNP (0.5, 1, or 2 mg/ml) or BG (10 or 20%) was used. Biodentine and intermediate restorative material (IRM) served as reference materials. Material disks were immersed in ultrapure water or fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 1, 7, or 28 days. Surface roughness (n = 3), microhardness (n = 9), and wettability (n = 6) were analyzed by standard procedures. Adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis was assessed by fluorescence microscopy (n = 5). Data from these assays were evaluated for normality and comparisons among groups were conducted with statistical procedures (p  0.05). Biodentine presented smooth surface characteristics and the highest hardness values (p < 0.05). The FBS-immersion resulted in surface reactions in prototype materials and Biodentine, depicted with scanning electron microscopy. All 1- and 7-day prototype cements showed negligible bacterial adhesion, while in Biodentine and IRM, noticeable E. faecalis adherence was observed from day 1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of SNP or BG did not improve the antibacterial effect of the experimental cement; all 28-day aged materials failed to inhibit bacterial adherence. The measured physical parameters did not appear to be related to the degree of bacterial adhesion. Exposure of TCS-based cements in FBS resulted in surface reactions, which did not affect bacterial adhesion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in the surface characteristics of prototype TCS-based cements by inclusion of SNP and BG or exposure to different environments did not affect bacterial adhesion. All experimental materials showed inferior physical properties and higher antibacterial effect than Biodentine. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-022-04655-y

The dentine-sealer interface: modulation of antimicrobial effects by irrigation

AIM: Assess whether sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or chlorhexidine (CHX) and two irrigation protocols may alter the antibacterial properties of dentine and three endodontic sealers using a novel ex vivo tooth model. METHODOLOGY: Prior to antibacterial testing, the tooth model was validated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the separation between dentine and sealer surfaces. Root blocks prepared from extracted human roots were pre‐treated with 17% EDTA + 0.9% saline and subsequently treated with 1% NaOCl (G1), 2% CHX (G2) or no irrigant (G3). Two irrigation protocols were further investigated, “1% NaOCl + 17% EDTA” (P1) and “1% NaOCl + 17% EDTA + 2% CHX” (P2). Following irrigation, the root blocks were either filled with AH Plus, BioRoot RCS and Pulp Canal Sealer (PCS), or left empty. All groups were incubated for 1, 7 and 28 days. Direct contact tests for planktonic E. faecalis and 48 h E. faecalis biofilms were performed at the level of dentine and sealer surfaces. Statistical analysis was performed on the bacterial survival between irrigants (G1, G2 and G3) and between irrigation protocols (P1 and P2); p < .05. RESULTS: The model was considered reproducible as SEM examination of dentine samples indicated consistent separation between dentine and sealer surfaces. Irrigation with CHX (G2) and irrigation protocol P2 enhanced the antibacterial properties of dentine without sealer application as well as dentine in contact with all three sealers tested, especially against planktonic E. faecalis. G2 and P2 also improved the antibacterial effect of AH Plus surfaces for all three incubation times. No irrigation groups (G1, G2) or irrigation protocols (P1, P2) altered the antibacterial properties of BioRoot RCS surfaces against planktonic bacteria or biofilms. Only BioRoot RCS surfaces eliminated the planktonic E. faecalis in all irrigation groups (G1, G2, G3) and protocols (P1, P2) investigated whilst PCS surfaces eliminate E. faecalis in biofilms in all groups up to 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The tooth model was reproducible. CHX improved the antibacterial activity upon both sealer and dentine surfaces. Amongst sealers, BioRoot RCS was less affected by NaOCl and CHX, and exhibited high antibacterial properties regardless the irrigation applied

Contrast-enhanced nano-CT reveals dental soft tissues and cellular layers

Aim: Nano-CT technologies offer 3D imaging methods that allow high-resolution examination of bones and teeth, but soft tissue components have weak X-ray attenuation and are not easily visualised in CT images. We introduce a methodology designed to simultaneously visualise dental ultrastructure, including cellular and soft tissue components, by utilising phosphotungstic acid (PTA) as a contrast-enhancement agent. Methodology: Sound third molars were collected from healthy human adults and fixed in 4% buffered paraformaldehyde. To evaluate the impact of PTA in concentrations of 0.3%, 0.7% and 1% on dental soft and hard tissues for CT imaging, cementum and dentine-pulp sections were cut, dehydrated and stained with immersion periods of 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days or 5 days. The samples were scanned with high-resolution nano-CT, where we examined both the cementum and pulpal regions with pixel sizes down to 0.5 µm for dental-pulp sections. Results: Dental cementum and periodontium as well as odontoblasts and predentine were made visible through PTA-staining in high-resolution three-dimensional nano-CT scans. Different segments of the tooth required different staining protocols. The thickness of the cementum could be computed over the height of the tooth once it was made visible by the PTA-enhanced contrast, and the attached soft tissue components of the interior of the tooth could be shown on the dentine-pulp interface in greater detail. Three-dimensional illustrations allowed a histology-like visualisation of the sections in all orientations with a single scan and easy sample preparation. The segmentation of the sigmoidal dentinal tubules and the surrounding dentine allowed a three-dimensional investigation and quantative of the dentine composition, such as the tubular lumen or the ratio of the tubular lumen area to the dentinal surface. Conclusion: The staining protocol made it possible to visualise hard tissues along with cellular layers and soft tissues using a laboratory-based nano-CT technique. The protocol depended on both tissue type and size. This methodology offers enhanced possibilities for the concomitant visualisation of soft and hard dental tissues