Low-Diversity Microbiota in Apical Periodontitis and High Blood Pressure Are Signatures of the Severity of Apical Lesions in Humans.

(1) Background: In developed countries, the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) varies from 20% to 50% for reasons that could be associated with the apical periodontitis microbiota ecology. (2) Methods: We performed a clinical study in the Odontology department of Toulouse hospital in France, to sequence the 16S rRNA gene of AP microbiota and collect clinical parameters from 94 patients. Forty-four patients were characterized with a PAI (periapical index of AP severity) score lower or equal to 3, while the others had superior scores (n = 50).

Effect of Sodium Hypochlorite Concentration on Electronic Apex Locator Reliability.

This ex vivo study aimed to measure the performance of an electronic apex locator (EAL) in the presence of sodium hypochlorite irrigants with different concentrations. Two EALs (Root ZX Mini and Locapex 6) were used to locate the apical foramen in 10 extracted single-rooted teeth in the presence of 0.5%, 2.

The XP-Endo Finisher for the removal of calcium hydroxide paste from root canals and from the apical third.

Background: The aim was to compare the efficacy of the passive ultrasonic irrigation PUI and the Xp-endo Finisher (FKG-Dentaire, La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) in removing the calcium hydroxide paste from root canals and from the apical third.

Material And Methods: Sixty-eight root canals of single-rooted teeth were shaped using the BT-Race files (FKG-Dentaire, La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland). Ca(OH)2 was placed in all samples except for the negative control group (n=4).

Interrelationships in the Variability of Root Canal Anatomy among the Permanent Teeth: A Full-Mouth Approach by Cone-Beam CT.

Objectives: In endodontic practice, clinicians should be aware of possible root canal anatomic variations. The aim of this study was to assess using CBCT acquisitions regarding whether one root canal anatomy of a tooth is associated with a specific anatomy of another tooth.

Methods: A total of 106 CBCT acquisitions were obtained using a CBCT scanner with 200μm voxel size.

Influence of CBCT parameters on the output of an automatic edge-detection-based endodontic segmentation.

Objectives: To determine the optimal CBCT settings for an automatic edge-detection-based endodontic segmentation procedure by assessing the accuracy of the root canal measurements.

Methods: 12 intact teeth with closed apexes were cut perpendicular to the root axis, at pre-determined levels to the reference plane (the first section made before acquisition). Acquisitions of each specimen were performed with Kodak 9000(®) 3D (76 µm, 14 bits; Kodak Carestream Health, Trophy, France) by using different combinations of milliamperes and kilovolts.

Prevalence of Apical Bone Defects and Evaluation of Associated Factors Detected with Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Images.

Introduction: Cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging has been shown to be accurate for detecting apical bone defects (ABDs). Medium field of view CBCT imaging may provide apical images of the whole oral cavity at a resolution that is sufficient to allow ABDs to be located and measured. The aim of the work presented was to calculate the prevalence of ABDs from CBCT images as well as to assess some associated factors and their measurement.

Effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on salivary microbial parameters at 6 months: a controlled observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the microbial changes in children with fixed orthodontic appliances compared with a control group of children without orthodontic treatment.

Material And Methods: Ninety-five children, aged between 12 and 16 years, participated in this study. Forty-eight subjects were fitted with fixed orthodontic appliances and forty-seven were free of any such appliances.

Evaluation of the preparation of the coronal part of the mesial canals of lower molars.

Canal entrances can be flared using specific, low speed, continuously rotating Ni-Ti instruments. Two such instruments were evaluated for their capacity to flare the canal entrance while respecting the initial canal axis. Lower molars (n = 20) with two distinct mesial canals were prepared to within 2.

Surgical and nonsurgical endodontic treatment-induced stress.

This observational study compared physiologic and psychological indicators of stress between two groups of 30 healthy patients undergoing either surgical or nonsurgical endodontic treatments. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure were monitored during care sessions. The patients were asked to score their anxiety before treatment and to report pain, stress, and/or discomfort experienced during care.

Root canal shaping using rotary nickel-titanium files in preclinical teaching.

Aims: This study set out to evaluate the prevalence of iatrogenic events during preclinical teaching of endodontics, comparing manual stainless steel versus nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary techniques for shaping natural root canals.

Method: Two groups of 13 inexperienced dental students were randomly made up and asked to shape 104 canals in natural teeth. Group R used Ni-Ti rotary files for shaping while Group M used a sequence of five manual stainless steel files.