This study was conducted to evaluate the sealing ability of a new material, self-setting injectable calcium phosphate cements in furcation perforations and compare it with light cured glass-ionomer cements and Cavit. Fifty recently extracted maxillary and mandibular molars with non-fused well developed roots were collected and intentional perforations were made in the furcation area with a bur. The perforations were repaired with calcium phosphate cement, Resin modified glass ionomer cement and cavit. These specimens were then immersed in 2% methylene blue dye. After their removal, they were sectioned and examined under stereomicroscope to evaluate dye penetration. Results demonstrated that furcation perforation repaired with calcium phosphate cement showed least micro leakage. In conclusion, calcium phosphate cement demonstrated better results than the other groups.

The present study was undertaken to isolate and identify aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms from the root canal samples of clinically symptomatic non vital teeth having periapical lesions, on first opening of root canal of 30 such intact teeth. Out of 30 samples, 26 yielded positive cultured with 69 isolates. 5 teeth showed purely anaerobic, 5 purely aerobic and 16 had mixed growth of anaerobic and aerobic isolates. Out of isolated 34 anaerobes, 16 were gram-positive cocci (Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus), 8 gram positive bacilli (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, Propionobacterium and Eubacterium), 2 gram-negative cocci (veillonella parvula) and 8 were gram-negative bacilli, (Bacteroids and Fusobacterium). Isolated aerobes included Diphtheroids, Staphylococci, Streptococci, E.coli, K pneumoniae, P.aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Invitro antibiotic sensitivities of isolated microorganisms were tested metronidiazole, tetracycline, benzylpencillin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, cefotaxime and cefoparazone by disc diffusion method. All isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime and cefoparazone, 82.6% were sensitive to tetracycline, 76.8% to cephalexin, 43.5% to amoxicillin and erythromycin, 34.8% to benzylpenicillin and 27.5% to metronidazole.

Patients who present with non-vital immature teeth pose a special challenge to dentists and requires a specially tailored treatment plan. This paper presents a brief review of the causes and complications of incomplete root development and the various treatment options reported in the literature with respect to their management with case reports.

Calcium hydroxide has been used as an intra canal medicament in different clinical situations such as to promote apexification, to repair perforation, to enhance healing of periapical lesions, to control root resorption and to control exudation in teeth with persistent periapical inflammation. Despite its several advantages, removal of calcium hydroxide from the root canal can be time consuming. The residual calcium hydroxide left intracanal has been shown to interact with zinc oxide based sealers forming calcium eugenolate. An innovative solution to these drawbacks is the introduction of calcium hydroxide releasing gutta percha points. These points have been claimed to have enhanced mobility of hydroxyl ions through dentin. This article provides case reports on various clinical situations successfully treated using calcium hydroxide points as an intra canal medicament.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of Root ZX in determining working length in presence of normal saline, 0.2% chlorhexidine and 2.5% of sodium hypochlorite. Thirty extracted, single rooted, single canal human teeth were used. Teeth were sectioned at CEJ and actual canal length determined. Then working length measurements were obtained with Root ZX in presence of normal saline, 0.2% chlorhexidine and 2.5% NaOCl. The working length obtained with Root ZX were compared with actual canal length and subjected to statistical analysis. No statistical significant difference was found between actual canal length and Root ZX measurements in presence of normal saline and 0.2% chlorhexidine. Highly statistical difference was found between actual canal length and Root ZX measurements in presence of 2.5% of NaOCl, however all the measurements were within the clinically acceptable range of ± 0.5mm. Overall Root ZX measurements were within 0.5mm of the actual canal length 100% of the time. The results of this study indicate that the Root ZX accurately determine the working length even in presence of intra canal irrigating solutions.

Rotary nickel-titanium files have become the most widely used engine driven endodontic instruments. Whenever these instruments are re-used proper cross-infection control measures should be undertaken. After clinical use if the tenaciously bound debris is not removed from endodontic files, any method of sterlization may be in-effective. Although varying concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) have been used to remove the organic debris, its effect on file surface with repeated cleaning and sterlization cycles have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of repeated cleaning and sterilization procedures on 3 brands of Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) endodontic file using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS).105 New NiTi instruments from 3 different manufacturers namely ProTaper, RaCe and ENDOWAVE were subjected to 2, 5 and 10 cycles of cleaning and sterilization procedure. Cleaning procedure involved pre soaking of files in 2.5% NaOCl for 15min (Group I) and 1hour (Group II), followed by sterilization process using steam autoclave at 121⁰C at 15psi pressure for 15minutes. Files were observed for evidence of corrosion such as pitting or deposition of corrosion products using SEM. EDS was conducted to analyze the chemical elements in corroded & non corroded areas of the file. 2.5% NaOCl is much more corrosive when used for 1hr immersion time compared to 15 minutes. All the files showed mild to severe corrosion with 1 hour immersion time in 2.5% NaOCl – ProTaper NiTi files showed most corrosion followed by RaCe and least corrosion in ENDOWAVE rotary files. This can be attributed to various surface treatment included during manufacturing process of these files.

Throughout the life of a tooth, vital pulp tissue contributes to the production of secondary dentin, peritubular dentin and reparative dentin in response to biologic and pathologic stimuli. In 1922 Rebel made the now quite often quoted statement, “The exposed pulp is a doomed organ’'. However despite his statement, it is now a universally accepted fact that the dental pulp does at times possess definite powers of recuperation and repair with due respect to calcium hydroxide introduced by Hermann in the 1920’s, and MTA in recent years which seems all set to replace it. Major advances in the practice of vital pulp therapy have been made and the emphasis has shifted from the “doomed organ” concept of an exposed pulp to one of hope and recovery. Molecular biology and stem cell research have now been very closely associated with vital pulp therapy for the last few years. This article aims to take a brief and succinct look at the newer strategies and to add a few thoughts on what the current implications are for preservation of tooth vitality.