Comparative radiographic and histological analyses of periapical lesion development

The Limitations of Periapical X-ray Assessment in Endodontic Diagnosis-A Systematic Review

Diagnosis is a key aspect in endodontic treatment, in a decade where invasive interventions are misapprehended as social tendency instead of medical necessity. All diagnostic facets should be considered before intending the operative phase. Intraoral endodontic radiology-based diagnosis has been shown to be limited. Periapical X-ray is the most used endodontic imaging, yet it does not provide high accuracy. Traditionally, dentists have been trained to diagnose a cyst by certain aspects (size, shape and appearance); hence, an assumption that teeth are affected by "periapical cyst" were subjected to unnecessary extraction or apicoectomy. The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise the publications that relate the histological diagnosis of a periapical lesion (considered the gold standard) to intraoral X-ray investigation. Ovid Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Mendeley and Scopus were searched for English-language studies comparing periapical diagnosis obtained by using two techniques (histopathology and X-ray). Sixteen articles were included for the final analysis (qualitative and quantitative evaluation) out of which only two supported the statement that periapical diagnosis can be coherently assessed through periapical imaging. Although there is not enough evidence to deliver a definitive conclusion, there are many publications that refute the diagnosis of a cyst via periapical X-ray.

Detection of Apical Dental Resorption Caused by Endodontic Infection in Mice Using Fluorescence and Bright-Field Microscopy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the fluorescence microscopy method in the detection of apical dental reabsorption after induction of apical periodontitis in animal models. Forty-first molars of mice, aged 6 to 8 weeks, had their root canals exposed to the oral environment or were maintained healthy as controls (n = 20). After 14 and 42 days, mice were euthanized and tissues were collected for histological evaluation by means of bright field and fluorescence microscopy. The accuracy of fluorescence microscopy in identifying apical external dental resorption was investigated using a diagnostic validation test based on the sensitivity (S) and specificity (E) properties. Bright-field microscopy revealed a higher number of specimens with scores of 1 to 3 - absence of apical dental resorption (n = 29; 52%), while fluorescence microscopy revealed a higher number of specimens with scores of 4 to 6 - presence of apical dental resorption (n = 37; 66%). Out of 56 specimens, 26 were TP, 11 were FP, and 19 were TN. No FN result was observed. Fluorescence microscopy presented a sensitivity value of 1, similar to the bright-field method, while specificity was lower (0.633). The accuracy of the fluorescent method to detect apical dental resorption was 0.804. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a higher number of false positive apical dental resorption than bright-field microscopy. The detection of apical dental resorption was not impacted by the sensitivity of the method but by its specificity.

Regenerative Characteristics of Apical Papilla-derived Cells from Immature Teeth with Pulpal and Periapical Pathosis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the regenerative characteristics of apical papilla-derived cells (APDCs) from immature teeth with pulpal and periapical pathosis and thus to provide proof-of-principle evidence for further regenerative endodontic research.

METHODS

Pulpal and periapical pathosis was induced in immature permanent double-rooted premolars of beagles, which were randomly assigned to experimental treatment groups: group AO (n = 14), pulp disruption and access left open; group PS (n = 14), supragingival plaque suspension-soaked cotton pellet was introduced, and access was sealed; and control (n = 7), untreated. The teeth were extracted at 2- and 4-week periods after experimental treatments. APDCs were cultured from the extracted teeth, and their cellular proliferation, differentiation characteristics, and stemness were assessed. The data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of intentional pulpal and periapical pathosis induction period, all teeth in group PS showed features of apical periodontitis with necrotic pulp, and their APDCs showed significantly increased proliferation rate and osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation capabilities (P < .05). The stemness was maintained in all APDCs, although the stem cell population was smaller in group PS at 2-week period when the inflammatory responses were most fulminant (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The APDCs from immature teeth retained the regenerative characteristics with the differences according to their pulpal and periapical pathosis. The results of this study partly provide the evidence for regenerative endodontic research.

Periapical repair following endodontic surgery: two- and three-dimensional imaging evaluation methods

This study quantitatively assessed the periapical bone repair following endodontic surgery, using planimetric evaluation based on two- (conventional and digital intraoral radiographic images - IRs) and three-dimensional (cone beam computed tomography - CBCT) evaluation. Eleven maxillary anterior teeth (of 11 patients) with periapical bone lesions and indication for surgical endodontic treatment were selected. IRs and CBCT images were acquired before the endodontic surgery, and 48 h, 4, and 8-months after the surgery. In each period of evaluation, the area (mm2) of the bone lesion was measured in the images, and the values for the three methods were compared. The area in the CBCT images was measured in the mesio-distal sections comprising the largest diameter of the lesion. Data were submitted to repeated measures 2-way ANOVA and t-tests with Bonferroni correction. There was significant difference between the periods of evaluation (p=0.002) regarding the assessed periapical bone lesion area. There was no statistically significant difference between the methods of evaluation (p=0.023). In the CBCT images the lesion areas were 10% larger than those observed in the conventional IRs (22.84 mm2) and 15% larger than those observed in the digital IRs (21.48 mm2). From the baseline (40.12 mm2) to 4 (20.06 mm2) and 8-months (9.40 mm2), reductions of 50 and 77% in the lesion area, respectively, were observed (p<0.0001). From 4 to 8-months, this value was 53%. Progressive bone repair could be seen from 48 h to 8-months following endodontic surgery based on two- (conventional and digital IRs) and three-dimensional (CBCT) evaluation. CBCT images provided results similar to those assessed by means of IRs.

Assessment of apical periodontitis in dogs and humans: a review

Veterinary dentists commonly encounter apical periodontitis in dogs. An overview of the disease is presented, concentrating on pathogenesis and mechanisms of healing. Assessment modalities are reviewed and interpretations of treatment success and failure are discussed. The limitations of readily available diagnostic equipment are illustrated. The benefits of identifying the causative agent and resultant pathosis should not be overlooked. Well-designed clinical studies evaluating various methods of long-term follow-up for apical periodontitis in dogs are needed.