Journal of Dental Medicine

Statement of Problem: Ultrasonic Scaling is one of the main sources of producing infected aerosols in dentistry. These aerosols are able to spread pathogens such as microorganisms associated with tuberculosis, conjunctivitis, influenza and other respiratory diseases, herpetic and other skin diseases, ADIS and hepatitis B.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of an aerosol- reduction device attaching to ultrasonic scaler handpiece.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 18 patients participated. Randomly, mandibular and maxillary quadrants of one side, in each subject, were scaled using an ultrasonic scaler with aerosol-reduction device for 5 minutes. After 30 minutes, another quadrant was scaled by ultrasonic scaler without aerosol- reduction device. In order to determine the effectiveness of aerosol- reduction device, blood agar plates attached to the surgical mask of the operator, 30 cm far from the patient's mouth, were incubated in 37°c for three days and the colonies were counted. Median, Interquartile eange and Wilcoxon test, at the 0.05 level of significance, were used to analyze the data.
Results: The median and interquartile range for the number of colony forming units (CFUS) without aerosol- reduction device was 17.5 (8, 24), while the median for the number of CFUS when using aerosol-reduction device was 0 (0, 1), indicating significant statistical difference (PO.001)

Conclusion: The aerosol- reduction device significantly reduces the amount of aerosols produced during ultrasonic scaling.

Background and Aim: A considerable percentage of failure in Endodontic treatments in maxillary molars is attributed to undiscovered second mesiobuccal canal (MB₂).There are different methods for discovering and accessing to this canal. The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the detection ability of three methods (direct look, fiberoptic loup and surgical microscope) to find MB₂ after troughing with ultrasonic.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we selected 90 extracted maxillary molars (45 first and 45 second molars) in which after access cavity preparation MB₂ canal was not discovered by direct vision and endodontic explorer. They were divided into 3 groups (n=30). The dentinal shelf between mesiobuccal and palatal canals was eliminated by an endodontic ultrasonic tip (troughing). After that, first group was searched by direct vision, second group by a loup and fiberoptic light and third group by dental operating microscope. Data were analyzed, specificity and sensitivity were calculated.

Results: The results showed that 21%, 61%, and 92% of MB₂ canals after troughing was found by direct vision, fiberoptic loup, and surgical microscope, respectively.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, surgical microscope and loup with fiberoptic are preferred methods for discovering MB₂ canal. Troughing with ultrasonic can help find MB₂ canal in all methods.

Background and Aims: Considering advantages and disadvantages of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) cement has been developed recently. The purpose of this study was to compare the apical microleakage of the root-end cavities prepared by ultrasonic or Er,Cr:YSGG laser and filled with MTA or CEM cement.

Materials and Methods: Eighty single-rooted, extracted human teeth were instrumented and obturated. Root-end resection was made by removing 3 mm of the apex. The teeth were randomly divided into two experimental (n=30) and two positive and negative control (n=10) groups. After that, the retrograde cavities were prepared using ultrasonic or Er,Cr: YSGG Laser. According to the root-end filling materials (MTA or CEM cement), each group was then divided into two subgroups. Finally, specimens were cleared for assessing the amount of apical dye (Indian ink) penetration. The data were analyzed using Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn tests.

Results: Laser/CEM cement group showed significantly the lowest mean apical dye penetration. There were no statistically significant differences between Laser/MTA, ultrasonic/MTA and ultrasonic/CEM cement groups.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, CEM cement demonstrated lower rate of apical leakage compared with MTA, when the root-end cavities prepared with Er,Cr:YSGG Laser. The sealing ability of MTA was not different following root-end preparation by ultrasonic or Er,Cr:YSGG Laser.

  Background and Aims: In case of nonsurgical endodontic re-treatment or replacing a restoration, one of the best methods for removing post from the canal is using an ultrasonic vibration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic vibration time on the retention of post luted with zinc phosphate or glass ionmer cements.

  Materials and Methods: 96 sound extracted lower premolars were selected. The coronal section of specimen was removed and the roots were endodontically treated. A 9-mm post space was prepared in each specimens and a stainless steel Parapost XP was cemented into the post space. Half of the specimens were cemented with the Zinc phosphate cement and the other by g lass ionomer cement. After 7 days of storage, both groups were equally divided into 4 subgroups of 12 teeth. Control group did not receive any treatment. The other subgroups subjected to ultrasonic vibration for 4, 8 or 12 minutes. The retention of all specimens was evaluated and data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests.

  Results: In control (no ultrasonic) group and 4 minute ultrasonic group, the retention of posts luted with Zinc phosphate cement were not significantly differen t from those luted with g lass ionomer cement. (P=0.372). On the other hand , applying of ultrasonic vibration for 8 and 12 minutes in zinc phosphate and 12 minutes in g lass ionomer caused a significant reduction in the retention of posts (P=0.01).

  Conclusion: Although, the initial retention of two cements was not different, the ultrasonic vibration had more catastrophic effect on zinc phosphate in comparison to glass ionomer.