Contemporary Cleaning of the Root Canal System

Effect of the Irrigation Agitation Technique on Postoperative Pain in Teeth With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis

Introduction Irrigation of the root canal system is a vital step in endodontic treatment aimed at disinfecting the canal. The efficacy of irrigation can be improved by various irrigation agitation methods. One such novel method of interest is the manual dynamic agitation (MDA) technique. However, the effect of MDA on postoperative pain as compared to needle irrigation (NI) with sodium hypochlorite has been scarcely explored. This study aimed to compare the effects of NI and MDA techniques on postoperative pain in teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Materials and methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Operative and Paediatric Dentistry, Fauji Foundation Dental Hospital, over four months after gaining ethical approval. One hundred and sixty-eight participants diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were enrolled in the study through the purposive sampling technique. The participants were divided into two groups based on the irrigation technique used: Group A (NI) and Group B (MDA). Postoperative pain was recorded after six hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and seven days using the 0-100mm visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS scores were compared using an independent sample t-test. Results Out of 168 participants, 48.2% were in Group A and 51.2% in Group B. The study found that VAS pain scores for Group B (MDA) were significantly lower at six hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and seven days as compared to Group A (NI), with a p-value less than 0.001. Conclusion This study shows that the MDA technique leads to decreased postoperative pain both immediately after endodontic treatment and a week later as compared to the NI technique. Hence, the use of MDA can aid in controlling postendodontic pain and, therefore, ensure smoother recovery and increased patient satisfaction.

Evaluation of the Fracture Resistance of Conservative and Ultraconservative Access Cavity Designs with Different Treatment Modalities: An In Vitro Study

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated mandibular molars using traditional and conservative access cavity preparation.

Materials and Methods

In this in vitro study, 100 extracted healthy human mandibular molars were selected and divided into 10 groups (n = 10). Healthy teeth in one group were considered the control group. In three groups, traditional access cavity preparation was done (groups A) without two marginal ridges (A1), with one marginal ridge (A2), and with two marginal ridges (A3). In three groups (group B), two separate access cavities with a dentinoenamel roof without two marginal ridges (B1), with one marginal ridge (B2), and with two marginal ridges (B3) were prepared. In three other groups (groups C), two separate access cavities were prepared only with a dentinal roof without two marginal ridges (C1), with one marginal ridge (C2), and with two marginal ridges (C3), on which root canal treatment was performed afterward. Then, these teeth were subjected to force until fracture. The fracture force and fracture mode of each tooth were recorded and compared between groups by ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc, and chi-square tests using SPSS ver. 23 (IBM, Somers, NJ, USA).

Results

The control teeth had the highest mean fracture force (2804.5 ± 338.5 N), followed by a conservative access cavity with a dentinoenamel roof and two marginal ridges (2360.4 ± 181.72 N) and a conservative access cavity with a dentinoenamel roof and one marginal ridge (1812.8 ± 263.9 N), respectively. The lowest mean fracture force was found for the conventional access cavity group without two marginal ridges (399.4 ± 95.2 N).

Conclusion

In the condition of this study, with two separate access cavities in mandibular molars and maintenance of the marginal ridges, it is possible to provide teeth with higher fracture resistance against occlusal forces.

IADT 2020 Guidelines: What should the dental professional know?

Traumatic dental injuries are a common occurrence among children. Effective acute and long-term management of traumatic dental injuries can improve patient outcomes, especially in the paediatric patient. It is important that all dental professionals follow up-to-date, evidence-based guidance when treating patients. This article aims to highlight the main changes in the 2020 International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) Guidelines for Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries, to ensure that all dental professionals are fully aware of current guidelines and are managing patients appropriately.