Abstract: This study assessed the ability of XP-endo Finisher R (FKG, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) to remove filling remnants from curved mesiobuccal canals of maxillary molars, using the passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) technique as a comparison. Twenty-four curved main mesiobuccal canals (MB1) of maxillary molars were instrumented with Wave One (#25/07) and filled with gutta-percha points and AH Plus Sealer. Samples were then re-treated with a standardized protocol with Wave One (#35/06) as the master apical file. Micro-CT scans measured baseline volume of remaining filling material (in mm3). Samples were divided into two groups (n = 12) according to the supplementary cleaning approach: (PUI) or XP-endo Finisher R. Statistics compared baseline and final volume of filling material (within-group); and the percentage of filling material reduction (between-group). Mean baseline volumes, final volumes, and percentages of reduction (%) of filling material for XP-endo Finisher R and PUI were respectively: 0.060 mm3, 0.042 mm3, and 31.28%; and 0.064 mm3, 0.054 mm3, and 16.57%. Both tested protocols reduced the amount of filling material (p < 0.05). XP-endo Finisher R had higher percentage of reduction as compared to PUI (p < 0.05). XP-endo Finisher R and PUI used as supplementary cleaning protocols during re-treatment improved the removal of root filling material in curved canals; but XP-endo Finisher R was approximately twice more efficient. The complete filling material removal during re-treatment procedures is still a challenge. Supplementary cleaning protocols may help to remove the remaining material after the complete mechanical preparation of curved canals. XP-endo Finisher R was approximately twice more efficient than PUI.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou a qualidade 3D de retro-obturações, avaliando a presença (volume e percentagem) de “gaps” marginais e “voids” internos formados a partir da retro-obturação com três materiais à base de silicato de cálcio: MTA Angelus (Angelus Soluções Odontológicas, Londrina, PR, Brasil), Biodentine (Septodont Ltd., Saint Maur-des-Faussés, França) and Neo MTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc., Bradenton, Flórida, US). Trinta dentes humanos unirradiculares extraídos foram usados. Após tratamento de canal ortrógrado, resecção radicular (3 mm apicais), o prepare da cavidade retrógrada com pontas ultrassônicas foi realizado. Os dentes foram divididos em três grupos (n= 10 cada) seguindo uma randomização estratificada, de acordo com o volume inicial da cavidade retrógrada. Depois da retro-obturação as amostras foram armazenadas por 7 dias. Duas rodadas de escaneamento de micro-CT foram realizadas: logo após o preparo retrógrado (com a cavidade ainda vazia) e 7 dias após a retro-obturação. O volume de “gaps” marginais e de “voids” internos (mm3 e %), bem como, os defeitos totais (soma de “gaps” e “voids”) foram avaliados. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos em relação aos “gaps” marginais (P≥ 0,05), “voids” internos (P≥ 0,05), e aos defeitos totais (P≥ 0,05). A mediana (mm3) e porcentagem dos defeitos totais de aprisionamento de ar foi 0,004mm3 e 1,749% para o MTA Angelus, 0,018mm3 e 6,660% para o Biodentine, e 0,012mm3 e 4,079% para o Neo MTA Plus. Todos os materiais tiveram defeitos (“gaps”e/ou “voids”). Não houve diferença entre MTA Angelus, Biodentine e Neo MTA Plus.

Abstract This study evaluated the 3D quality of root-end filling, assessing the presence (volume and percentage) of marginal gaps and internal voids formed after retro-filling with three calcium silicate-based materials: MTA Angelus (Angelus Soluçoes Odontologicas, Londrina, PR, Brazil), Biodentine (Septodont Ltd., Saint Maur-des-Faussés, France) and Neo MTA Plus (Avalon Biomed Inc., Bradenton, Florida, US). Thirty human, extracted, single rooted teeth were used. Orthograde root canal treatment, root resection (3mm shorter than the apex) and retrograde cavity preparation with ultrasonic tips were performed. Teeth were divided into 3 groups (n =10 each) following a stratified randomization according to the initial volume of the root-end cavity. After retrofilling, samples were stored for 7 days. Then, two rounds of micro-CT scans were performed: soon after root-end preparation (with the cavity still empty) and 7 days after root-end filling. Marginal gaps, internal voids volume (mm3 and %), as well as, the overall defects (sum of gaps and voids) were evaluated. Statistics compared the three groups in relation to those defects. There was not statistical difference between groups regarding the marginal gaps (P≥ 0.05), the internal voids (P≥ 0.05), and the overall defects (P≥ 0.05). Median (mm3) and % of overall air-entrapment defects (gaps and/or voids) was: 0.004mm3 and 1.749% for MTA Angelus, 0.018mm3 and 6.660% for Biodentine, and 0.012mm3 and 4.079% for Neo MTA Plus. All materials had gaps and/or voids. No differences were found between MTA Angelus, Biodentine and Neo MTA Plus.

Resumo Este estudo investigou o efeito da contaminação sanguínea na resistência de união do BiodentineTM (BD) e do MTA Angelus® (MTA-A) à dentina, em diferentes períodos. Vinte e cinco dentes foram seccionados para obter 120 fatias de dentina. Os lúmens das fatias foram preenchidos com MTA-A ou BD: 60 para cada cimento (30 não-contaminados e 30 contaminados com sangue). A resistência de união à dentina foi medida por teste push-out em 24 horas (n=10), 7 dias (n=10) e 28 dias (n=10). Os tipos de falha foram classificados como: falha coesiva, adesiva ou mista. Two-way ANOVA foi usado para investigar a interação entre contaminação sanguínea vs. período de hidratação. O teste de Mann Whitney comparou os diferentes materiais em cada período, e comparou as amostras contaminadas e não contaminadas de cada material em cada tempo. O teste de Friedman, seguido pelo teste de Dunn, comparou os períodos de hidratação de cada material, independentemente da contaminação. A análise estatística mostrou a interação entre contaminação sanguínea vs. período de hidratação. Os tipos de falha foram reportados de maneira descritiva. A interação entre contaminação sanguínea vs. período de hidratação foi altamente significativa para o MTA-A (P=0,001), e não foi significativa para o BD (P=0,474). Não houve diferenças entre a resistência de união entre o BD contaminado e não-contaminado independente do período. A resistência de união do MTA-A não-contaminado aumentou a cada tempo de hidratação; mas, permaneceu estável ao longo do tempo para as amostras contaminadas com sangue. BD obteve maior resistência de união que o MTA-A em todos os períodos de hidratação. Falhas coesivas predominaram. A contaminação ao longo do tempo influenciou a resistência de união no grupo MTA-A.

Abstract This study investigated the effect of blood-contamination on the push-out bond strength of BiodentineTM (BD) and MTA Angelus® (MTA-A) to root dentin over time. Twenty-five teeth were sectioned horizontally to obtain 120 root slices. The lumens were filled with MTA-A or BD: 60 for each cement (30 uncontaminated and 30 blood contaminated). Push out bond strength to dentin was assessed at 24 h (n=10), 7 days (n=10) and 28 days (n=10). Failure modes were classified as: cohesive, adhesive or mixed failure. Two-way ANOVA was used to investigate the interaction between blood contamination vs. hydration period. Mann Whitney test compared different materials in each period, and it also compared the contaminated versus uncontaminated material for each period. Friedman, followed by Dunn`s test, compared periods of hydration for each material, regardless of blood contamination. Failure modes were reported descriptively. The interaction hydration period vs. blood contamination was highly significant for MTA-A (P=0.001) and it was not significant for BD (P=0.474). There were no differences between bond strength of uncontaminated and contaminated BD in any of the periods. Bond strength of uncontaminated MTA-A increased at each time of hydration; but it remained stable over time for blood-contaminated samples. BD had higher bond strength than MTA-A in all periods of hydration. Cohesive failure predominated. Only for MTA-A, the over time bond strength to dentin was affected by blood contamination.

The aim of this study was to assess, in vivo, the accuracy of the NovApex® electronic foramen locator in determining working length (WL) in vital and necrotic posterior teeth. The NovApex®was used in 144 canals: 35 teeth with vital pulps (68 canals) and 42 teeth with necrotic pulps (76 canals). WL was measured with the NovApex® locator and confirmed using the radiographic method. Differences between electronic and radiographic measurements ranging between 0.0 and 0.4 millimeters were classified as acceptable; differences equal to or greater than 0.5 millimeter were considered unacceptable. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess the influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of NovApex®(a = 0.05). Regardless of pulp condition, differences between electronic and radiographic WL measurements were acceptable in 73.61% of the canals. No statistically significant differences in accuracy were observed when comparing vital and necrotic canals (p > 0.05). There were 38 unacceptable measurements. In none of these cases was the file tip located beyond the radiographic apex; in 32, it was located short of the NovApex® measurement. Pulp condition had no significant effect on the accuracy of NovApex®.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a capacidade de selamento do ionomero de vidro e resina composta, com ou sem 1 mm de coltosol, sobre o material obturador endodôntico. MÉTODOS: O tratamento endodôntico foi realizado em 50 dentes humanos mandibulares unirradiculares. Os dentes foram divididos em 6 grupos: G1, controle positivo; G2, controle negativo; G3, ionômero de vidro (Vidrion R); G4, Coltosol + Vidrion R; G5, resina composta; e, G6, Coltosol + resina composta. Os dentes foram submetidos a termociclagem e a avaliação da microinfiltração usando azul de metileno. Os especimes foram seccionados e a quantidade maxima de penetração de corante avaliado. As medias e desvios-padrão de penetração do corante (em %) para cada grupo foram analisadas pelo teste ANOVA e pelo teste de multiplas comparações de Tukey's (α=0.05). RESULTADOS: As medias e desvios-padrão de midroinfiltração foram: G1: 96,56 (±2,31); G2: 0,00 (±0,00); G3: 68,76 (±24,63); G4: 24,42 (±8,33); G5: 20,06 (±9,35); and,G6: 12,86 (±6,08). CONCLUSÃO: Pode-se concluir que nenhum material obturador preveniu completamente a microinfiltração. Resina composta utilizada isoladamente ou associada ao coltosol e o ionômero de vidro associado ao coltosol apresentaram menor microinfiltração do que o ionomero de vidro utilizado sozinho.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability sealing of glass ionomer and composite resin with or without 1-mm thickness of Coltosol on the root-canal filling material. METHODS: Root-canal treatment was completed on 50-extracted human mandibular unirradicular. The teeth were divided into six groups: G1, positive control; G2, negative control; G3, glass ionomer (Vidrion R); G4, Coltosol + Vidrion R; G5, composite resin; and, G6, Coltosol + composite resin. For G1 and G2 five teeth each were used and for the other groups, ten teeth each. The teeth were thermocycled and evaluated for microleakage using methylene blue dye. Specimens were sectioned and measurements made to the maximum point of dye penetration. The mean dye penetration (%) for each group was compared by ANOVA and Tukey's test for post-hoc comparisons (α=0.05). RESULTS: The means and standard deviations of microleakage were: G1, 96.56 (±2.31); G2, 0.00 (±0.00); G3, 68.76 (±24.63); G4, 24.42 (±8.33); G5, 20.06 (±9.35); and, G6, 12.86 (±6.08). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that none of the materials were able to prevent microleakage. Composite resin alone or combined with coltosol and glass ionomer associated with coltosol resulted in less microleakage than the glass ionomer used alone.

Esta pesquisa estudou a flexibilidade de instrumentos do Sistema K3 (conicidade 0.04) e do Sistema ProTaper Universal, por meio de um teste mecânico, quando os instrumentos eram novos e após 5 usos em canais simulados. Cinco jogos de instrumentos de cada sistema foram testados, como segue: grupo I - K3 (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 e 45), e grupo II - ProTaper Universal (S1, S2, F1, F2, F3, F4 e F5). Cada jogo de instrumento foi usado para preparar um canal simulado, e o mesmo jogo de instrumento foi usado 5 vezes (50 canais). O número de cada subgrupo representou o número de usos: 0 (controle), 1, 3 e 5 usos. Antes do uso e depois de cada uso os instrumentos foram submetidos a um teste mecânico de flexibilidade realizado na máquina de ensaios universais Versat 502. A interação entre o instrumento e o número de usos foi analisada pelo ANOVA e pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de significância 5%. Instrumentos de ambos os sistemas apresentaram menor flexibilidade após o terceiro uso quando comparada com a flexibilidade após os usos 0 e 1 (p<0,05), e mantiveram a mesma flexibilidade após o quinto uso. A flexibilidade dos instrumentos do sistema K3 diminuiu conforme o aumento de diâmetro, independente do número de usos. Entre os instrumentos do sistema ProTaper Universal, os shaping apresentaram maior flexibilidade que os finishing. F2 e F3 foram os menos flexíveis e F4 e F5 apresentaram valores de flexibilidade similares ao F1.

This study used a mechanical test to evaluate the flexibility of instruments from the K3 (conicity 0.04) and the ProTaper Universal systems when they were new and after 5 uses in simulated canals. Five sets of instruments of each system were tested: K3 (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45) and ProTaper Universal (S1, S2, F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5). Each set of instruments was used to prepare a simulated canal and the same set of instruments was used 5 times (50 canals). The number of each subgroup represented the number of uses: 0 (control), 1, 3 and 5 uses. Before and after each use, the instruments were submitted to a mechanical flexibility test performed in a Versat 502 universal testing machine. Interactions between the instrument and the number of uses were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test at a 5% level of significance. Instruments from both systems presented lower flexibility after the third use compared to the flexibility obtained after uses 0 and 1 (p<0.05), and maintained the same flexibility after the fifth use. The flexibility of instruments from the K3 system decreased with the increase of diameter, irrespective of the number of uses. Among the instruments from the ProTaper Universal system, the shaping files presented greater flexibility than the finishing files. F2 and F3 were the least flexible instruments, and F4 and F5 presented flexibility values similar to those of F1.

OBJETIVO: No Brasil, o SINAES é a proposta de avaliação da educação superior atualmente em vigência e que avalia as instituições de educação superior, os cursos de graduação e o desempenho dos estudantes (ENADE). Este estudo abordou a avaliação dos cursos de Odontologia em 2003 e 2004 para observar se os resultados da avaliação induziram melhora no processo ensino-aprendizagem. METODOLOGIA: Este estudo transversal foi realizado por meio de questionários com questões abertas e fechadas enviados por e-mail a 165 professores/coordenadores dos programas de graduação em Odontologia do Brasil em 2003/2004. As questões 1, 2 e 3 se referiram à avaliação das Instituições e dos cursos de Odontologia. As questões 5, 6 e 7 se referiram ao ENADE. RESULTADOS: As mudanças com objetivo de melhora na qualidade do ensino em Odontologia e na educação de novos profissionais são impulsionadas pelos resultados do processo de avaliação. Tais mudanças foram implementadas em todas as Instituições de ensino que retornaram os questionários preenchidos. CONCLUSÃO: Mudanças na qualidade da Odontologia brasileira somente serão possíveis se ocorrer melhora no processo educativo de estudantes e professores.

PURPOSE: In Brazil, the SINAES is a process that is currently used to assess higher education institutions, undergraduate programs and students' performance on the ENADE national exam. This study aimed at assessing the Brazilian undergraduate programs in Dentistry, inquiring if the evaluation results induced to changes to improve the teaching-learning process. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire that was e-mailed to 165 professors/coordinators of undergraduate programs in Dentistry in Brazil in 2003/2004. The data analysis was based on the themes of the various open- and closed-ended questions: questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 referred to the evaluation of each institution and its undergraduate program, whereas questions 5, 6 and 7 referred to the ENADE. RESULTS: Changes to improve the quality of teaching in Dentistry and the education of new professionals were driven by the results of the evaluation. These changes were implemented at all institutions that returned the completed questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Improvements in the quality of Brazilian Dentistry will only be possible if the education of the students and the professors is improved.

This in vitro study evaluated (1) the dissolution of bovine pulp tissue in solutions consisting of varying NaOCl concentrations and combined with EDTA; and (2) the pH of these solutions before and after the experiment. The independent variables were the concentration and the volume of the solution. Thirty bovine pulps were divided in equal fragments, resulting in 90 fragments of pulp tissue. Each fragment was immersed in one of the following solutions: 1% NaOCl (4 ml), 2.5% NaOCl (4 ml), 1% NaOCl + 17% EDTA (2 ml : 2 ml), 1% NaOCl + 17% EDTA (1 ml : 3 ml), 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA (2 ml : 2 ml), and 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA (1 ml : 3 ml). The test solutions were dichotomized as either able or not able to dissolve the tissue, the latter being attributed when the dissolution of the pulp tissue was not complete within 48 hours. When the samples were able to dissolve the tissue, the time required for complete tissue dissolution was submitted to statistical analysis. The pH of the solutions was measured before and after the experiment. The pH variable was dichotomized as either changed or unchanged. The results demonstrated that the NaOCl solutions combined with 17% EDTA were not able to dissolve the tissue. The t-test revealed that the 2.5% NaOCl solution presented a lower mean dissolution time than the 1% NaOCl solution (p < 0.001). The pH of the solutions with equal volumes of NaOCl and EDTA decreased in 48 hours.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the wear in the apical third of simulate canals after preparation with ProTaper Universal Rotary System. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 sets of instruments were used in 24 simulated canals in transparent epoxy resin blocks with degree of curvature of either 20°or 40°. The canals were photographed preoperatively and after preparation of the apical stop with ProTaper F3, F4 and F5 instruments. The initial and final images were exported to Adobe Photoshop® software and superimposed to detect the root canal wall differences (in mm) between them, in two points located 1 (A) and 5 (B) mm from the point where the working length was established. Data were subjected to analysis of variance to verify the existence of interaction among the factors: canal curvature, instrument size and curve location. Significant level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Regardless of the location and the canal curvature, F4 and F5 instruments produced the greatest wear (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a deviation from the original pathway towards the outside of the root curvature in both analyzed points. All instruments produced canal transportation, but the F4 and F5 instruments produced more than the other instruments, and should thus be used with care in curved canals.