A survey of dental residents' expectations for regenerative endodontics.

Introduction: The objective was to survey a group of dental residents regarding their expectations for using regenerative endodontic procedures as part of future dental treatments.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, the opinions of 32 dentists who were having postgraduate residency training to become specialists in a dental school were surveyed. The survey had 40 questions about professional status, ethical beliefs, judgment, and clinical practice.

Proliferation of mature ex vivo human dental pulp using tissue engineering scaffolds.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the proliferation of mature human dental pulp tissue using three types of tissue engineering scaffolds.

Methods: Mature human teeth were collected immediately after extraction for routine dental treatment reasons. Three types of tissue engineering scaffolds were investigated (1) open-polylactic acid (polymer) scaffolds, (2) bovine collagen (collagen) scaffolds, and (3) calcium phosphate bioceramic (calcium phosphate) scaffolds.

Dental pulp stem cell migration.

Introduction: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the migration of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in response to chemotactants and extracellular matrix proteins (EMPs). This DPSC signaling information is needed to help understand tooth regeneration after injury and to develop some future regenerative endodontic therapies.

Methods: DPSCs were released by trypsinization and plated on transwell filters.

Effect of Aquatine Endodontic Cleanser on smear layer removal in the root canals of ex vivo human teeth.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the root canal cleanliness and smear layer removal effectiveness of Aquatine Endodontic Cleanser (Aquatine EC) when used as an endodontic irrigating solution in comparison with 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).

Material And Methods: Forty-five human teeth were randomly allocated to five treatment groups; the pulp chamber was accessed, cleaned, and shaped by using ProTaper and ProFile rotary instrumentation to an ISO size #40. The teeth were then processed for scanning electron microscopy, and the root canal cleanliness and removal of smear layer were examined.

A practitioner survey of opinions toward regenerative endodontics.

The success of regenerative endodontic procedures requires practitioner acceptance, but little or no evidence is available. The purpose of this survey was to collect the opinions of attendee's of the 2008 Endodontic Board of Diplomates 2008 Summer Conference on the issue of regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs). After Nova Southeastern University institutional review board approval, 100 copies of a survey were circulated, and 56 completed surveys were returned anonymously.

Removing root canal obturation materials: a comparison of rotary file systems and re-treatment agents.

Background: The authors conducted a study to compare the effectiveness and working time of two rotary instrumentation file systems with two solvents for the removal of gutta-percha (GP) (ProTaper Universal, Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, Okla.) or resin-based composite (RBC) (RealSeal 1 Bonded Obturator, SybronEndo, Orange, Calif.) endodontic obturation materials.

Cell survival within pulp and periodontal constructs.

The purpose of this study was to measure cell survival and degradation within tissue-engineered dental constructs. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PLSCs) were seeded on three types of tissue engineering scaffolds: a synthetic open-cell D,D-L,L-polylactic acid (polymer) scaffold, a bovine collagen scaffold (collagen), and a calcium phosphate bioceramic (calcium phosphate) scaffold. The dental pulp and periodontal constructs (n = 144) were maintained in cell culture for between 3 and 14 days.

The comparison of the effect of endodontic irrigation on cell adherence to root canal dentin.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 10 different endodontic irrigation and chelating treatments on dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) attachment to root canal surfaces. Thirty-eight extracted human nondiseased single-canal teeth were cleaned and shaped using ProTaper and ProFile rotary instrumentation (Tulsa Dentsply, Tulsa, OK). The irrigation treatments investigated were 6% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, Aquatine Endodontic Cleanser, and Morinda citrifolia juice.

A scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the effectiveness of the F-file versus ultrasonic activation of a K-file to remove smear layer.

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of F-files and ultrasonics to remove the smear layer from instrumented root canals when irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA. Sixty healthy human premolar teeth were instrumented with ProTaper file series to F3, and the canals were enlarged with Profiles 35/.06, 40/.

An ultrastructural investigation of tissue-engineered pulp constructs implanted within endodontically treated teeth.

Background: The authors conducted an ultrastructural scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation of tissue-engineered pulp constructs implanted within endodontically treated teeth.

Methods: Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth were seeded on a synthetic open-cell D,D-L,L-polylactic acid scaffold with or without the addition of bone morphogenic protein-2 and transforming growth factor beta1 to create pulp tissue constructs. The pulp constructs were implanted into 105 extracted human premolar teeth with a single root canal that had been cleaned and shaped by using rotary instrumentation in a crown-down manner to ISO size no.

Evaluation of Morinda citrifolia as an endodontic irrigant.

The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro effectiveness of Morinda citrifolia juice (MCJ) with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) to remove the smear layer from the canal walls of endodontically instrumented teeth. Sixty extracted, single-rooted, mature, permanent, human premolar teeth with a single canal were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis at 37 degrees C in a CO2 atmosphere for 30 days. The teeth were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups; the pulp chamber was accessed, cleaned, and shaped by using ProTaper and ProFile rotary instrumentation to a size 35.