Management of a hopeless mandibular molar: A case report

Intentional tooth reimplantation can be an alternative treatment option for teeth with poor or hopeless prognosis where coronal and surgical endodontic treatment(s) are not possible. This technique may help to restore a natural tooth to function in preference to prosthesis/implant replacements. A 38-years old male was referred to private practice with persistent chronic apical periodontitis of a previously root canal treated mandibular left first molar. A furcal perforation and distolingual cusp fracture was previously repaired and treated with amalgam (~5 years ago). In view of the patient/tooth’s limitations, intentional reimplantation was planned using CEM cement retrograde filling. Clinical and radiographic follow-up during 2 years postoperatively revealed no sign/symptoms of infection or inflammation. Moreover, periradicular healing was evident on radiographs

Autogenous transplantation of mandibular third molar to replace tooth with vertical root fracture

Autogenous tooth transplantation (ATT) can be considered when there is a hopeless molar tooth and suitable donor present. This report presents an unconventional case of successful ATT of a third molar replacing the adjacent fractured second molar in a 33 year old woman. This wisdom tooth had completely developed roots. Root-end filling with Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) cement was performed in the third molar. The second molar was extracted non-traumatically without any bone removal; the wisdom tooth was immediately transplanted into the recipient socket. No endodontic treatment was carried out either during or after the ATT. At six-month and 2-year clinical examination the patient was asymptomatic; the transplanted tooth was still functional, with no evidence of marginal periodontal pathosis. At the same follow ups, radiographic evaluation illustrated bone regeneration, normal PDL, and absence of external root resorption. Transplantation of mature third molar seems to be a promising method for replacing a lost permanent molar tooth and restoring aesthetics and function

Management of Pink Spot due to Class IV Invasive Cervical Root Resorption using Vital Pulp Therapy: A Case Report

A 30-year-old male patient with the chief complaint of pink spot discoloration of the tooth crown in his upper left central incisor was referred for endodontic and esthetic management. After thorough clinical and radiographic examinations, the final diagnosis was class IV invasive cervical resorption (ICR) which was conservatively treated with an orthograde approach; i.e. vital pulp therapy with calcium-enriched mixture cement (VPT/CEM). The use of VPT/CEM was successful to restore esthetics and stop the ICR; confirmed clinically, radiographically, and tomographically at one-year recall. The above-mentioned minimally invasive approach reported in the current case study may be considered a practical treatment modality for ICR, specifically in anterior teeth

Micro-computed Tomography Assessment of Full Pulpotomy in a Mature Molar after Five Years: A Case Report

The current case study evaluated the effect of vital pulp therapy on a human dental pulp after a long-term period using micro-computed tomography (MCT) for the first time. In the presented report, the successful outcomes of full pulpotomy using calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement on an irreversible pulpitis case were documented clinically/radiographically over 5 years. Due to an unrestorable crown fracture at the 5-year recall, the tooth was extracted and evaluated by MCT; the images showed that CEM pulpotomy allowed the dental pulp to create complete dentinal bridges without pulp canal obliteration (PCO). These MCT results showed that CEM pulpotomy, as a bio-regenerative treatment, caused no negative consequence of PCO or calcific metamorphosis on dental pulp over the long term

Rapid Bone Healing after Intentional Replantation of a Molar with Apical Actinomycosis

Actinomycosis is a rare lesion of the jaws and may present as periapical pathosis; therefore, it is essential to be correctly diagnosed and managed. This case presentation describes management of a tooth with a symptomatic apical periodontitis caused by Actinomyces species supplemented with medicine prescription. A woman was referred for endodontic management of tooth #19. The tooth had a history of previous nonsurgical endodontic retreatment. Clinically, the tooth was very sensitive to percussion. Radiographic evaluation showed a large periapical lesion. Intentional replantation (IR) was planned. The tooth was a traumatically extracted. Without any curettage, through the blood flow coming out of the socket, a small yellowish granule was detected and sent for examination. After root-end preparations, the cavities were filled with calcium-enriched mixture cement and the tooth was carefully replanted. Histopathological assessment proved actinomycosis sulfur granule. According to infectious disease specialist recommendation, low-dose and long-term penicillin V was prescribed. Interestingly, at 2-month follow-up, remarkable bone healing was observed. In the cases of apical actinomycosis, IR in combination with antibiotic therapy, even without the curettage of the lesion, may be successfully employed. Keywords: Actinomycosis; Calcium-enriched Mixture; CEM Cement; Endodontic; Tooth Replantation; Periapical Periodontiti

Tampon Pulpotomy: Long-term Successful Results of a Molar with Irreversible Pulpitis and Previous Vital Pulp Therapy Failure

Minimally invasive vital pulp therapy (VPT) techniques have become increasingly popular for treating mature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis. However, in cases where less invasive VPT approaches, such as miniature pulpotomy, fail to provide symptom relief and desired outcomes, alternative treatment strategies need to be explored. This case report presents the successful application of tampon pulpotomy, a modified full pulpotomy technique, in a vital molar tooth with irreversible pulpitis, after a previous miniature pulpotomy failure. The tampon pulpotomy procedure involved the placement of an endodontic biomaterial (i.e. calcium-enriched mixture cement) over the pulpal wound to stop bleeding and create a favorable environment for pulpal healing/regeneration. The patient was followed up for a period of 10 years, during which the tooth remained asymptomatic, functional, and exhibited normal periodontal ligament. This case report highlights the potential effectiveness of tampon/full pulpotomy as a retreatment option in cases where more conservative VPT techniques have shown limited success, offering a conservative approach to preserve tooth structure and pulpal vitality

Antifungal Activity of Endodontic Irrigants

Introduction: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the antifungal activity of final canal rinse with either three concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (0.5, 2.6 and 6%), two concentrations of chlorhexidine (CHX) (2% and 0.2%), MTAD, Tetraclean, Hypoclean and Chlor-Xtra on Candida albicans (C. albicans) in a human tooth model. Methods and Materials: Two hundred and thirty five extracted human maxillary central and lateral incisors were used in this study. Teeth were randomly divided into nine test groups (n=25) and positive and a negative control groups (n=5). After cleaning and shaping, teeth were contaminated with C. albicans and incubated for 72 h. The irrigation solution in nine experimental groups included: 6% NaOCl, 2.6% NaOCl, 0.5% NaOCl, 2% CHX, 0.2% CHX, MTAD, Tetraclean, Hypoclean and Chlor-Xtra. After culturing on Sabouraud 4% dextrose agar, colony-forming units (CFU) were counted. Results: 6% NaOCl, 2% CHX and Chlor-Xtra were equally effective (P>0.05) and significantly superior to MTAD and Tetraclean (P<0.05). In addition, the effectiveness of Tetraclean and MTAD was significantly less than Hypoclean, NaOCl at all concentrations (6% 2.6% and 0.5%), MTAD and 0.2% CHX (P<0.05). Furthermore, Tetraclean was significantly more effective than MTAD (P<0.05). Conclusion: Antifungal activity of 6% NaOCl, Chlor-Xtra and 2% CHX was significantly greater than 2.6% NaOCl, 0.5% NaOCl, MTAD, 0.2% CHX and Tetraclea

Endodontic Surgery of a Symptomatic Overfilled MTA Apical Plug: A Histological and Clinical Case Report

This case report presents the successful surgical treatment of a symptomatic open apex upper central incisor with a failed overfilled mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) apical plug. Unintentional overextension of the MTA had occurred two years before the initial visit. An apical lesion adjacent to the excess MTA was radiographically detectable. Endodontic surgery was performed using calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement as a root-end filling material. Curettage of the apical lesion showed a mass of unset MTA particles; histopathological examination revealed fragments of MTA and granulation tissues. Up to 18-month follow-up, the tooth was clinically asymptomatic and fully functional. Periapical radiograph and CBCT images showed a normal periodontal ligament around the root. In conclusion, favorable outcomes in this case study suggested that root-end filling with CEM cement might be an appropriate approach; in addition, however many factors probably related to the initial failure of the case, the extrusion of MTA into the periapical area should be avoided.Keywords: Apical barrier; Apicoectomy; Calcium-Enriched Mixture; CEM Cement; Endodontics; MTA; Surgical treatmen