The purpose of this study was to analyse the social media activity related to endodontic research over the last 10-years. All research articles published in endodontic journals listed in Scopus (Sc) published in 2012 and 2018 were included in our study. The Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), Twitter, and Facebook mentions were obtained for each article. Citation counts were extracted using two citation metrics: Google Scholar (GS) and Sc. Correlations between the AAS, the number of social media mentions, and citations were analysed using Spearman's rank order correlation coefficient. A multivariable Poisson log-linear regression analysis shows that papers mentioned on social media gain about 35% more citations in GS and 31% more citations in Sc. The academic citations per article on GS and Sc were positively correlated with the AAS. Our data suggest an increasing positive correlation between social media mentions and article citations over the years.
Managing teeth with open apices can be a challenging scenario for clinicians. This case report describes the 24-year follow-up of a maxillary central incisor that failed to develop after a traumatic injury resulting in a wide-open apex. A 10-year-old girl presented complaining of discomfort in her upper teeth. Tooth #9 had received a traumatic blow several years before and was discoloured with a resin composite restoration on the mesio-incisal edge. The tooth was painful to percussion and palpation. An inadequate root canal filling and incomplete root formation were observed on the initial periapical radiograph. Root canal retreatment was initiated, and the canal filled entirely with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) because of the extremely wide canal and open apex. The patient was asymptomatic at the 24-year follow-up with the cone beam computed tomography and periapical radiographs demonstrating the stability of the MTA.
Endodontic microsurgery guided by navigation systems represents a precise and minimally invasive approach for retreatment of apical periodontitis following failed conventional endodontic therapy. Accurate localization and minimal access to the root apex are paramount for successful outcomes and preservation of anatomical structures. Workflow considerations, such as three-dimensional (3D) virtual planning and endodontic guidance represent new crucial aspects for addressing complex cases. This clinical case report presents the successful reintervention of a complex case using a Zekrya bur, operative microscopy, cone beam computed tomography and biocompatible materials. After a 48-month follow-up, complete healing of the treated area was observed. This minimally invasive technique, employing a simple instrument widely available globally, underscores the potential for efficient and predictable outcomes in complex endodontic microsurgical retreatment.
This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in combination with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] against Enterococcus faecalis biofilm. On an E. faecalis biofilm on dentin discs, the following medicaments were applied for 7 days (n = 13/group): 0.005% AgNPs+Ca(OH)2, 0.01% AgNPs+Ca(OH)2, 0.02% AgNPs + Ca(OH)2, Ca(OH)2 and saline/control. Specimens were stained with LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ dye and analysed with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proportion of dead bacteria was calculated and analysed. There was a significant reduction in E. faecalis biofilm in all medicament groups (43.5%, 49.1%, 69.1%, 48.7%) respectively, compared with control group (2.54%) (p < 0.001). The 0.02% AgNPs + Ca(OH)2 group demonstrated the most significantly superior antibiofilm effect, with no significant difference between remaining groups. In conclusion, combining 0.02% AgNPs enhanced the antibiofilm effect of Ca(OH)2 on E. faecalis biofilm compared with lower AgNPs concentrations.
This study evaluated the reliability of sealer penetration measurement methods used with confocal laser scanning microscopy in correlation with the percentage of residual root filling and examined the effect of residual root-filling material on dentine penetrability after retreatment. Extracted teeth were randomly divided into different groups according to the obturation sealer used (n = 6); BioRoot RCS; MTA Fillapex; Bio-C and AH Plus. Root-filling material was removed before the secondary chemo-mechanical preparation and obturation using fluorescein labelled AH Plus. Multiple micro-computed tomography scans were obtained followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to measure the penetration of the labelled sealer into the dentinal tubules using four different methods. Measuring sealer penetration into radicular dentine using the penetration percentage method was found to be the most reliable. Dentine penetrability during retreatment did not seem to be affected by the type of residual root-filling material.