Radiographic technical quality of root fillings performed by dental students in Turkey

AIM

To evaluate the radiographic technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students at a dentistry faculty in Turkey.

METHODOLOGY

A random sample of 2000 records of patients who received dental treatment at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Gazi between 2000 and 2003 was investigated. The final sample consisted of 1,893 root-filled teeth with 3,692 root canals in 1,654 dental patients. For each root-filled tooth, at least three periapical radiographs were examined: preoperative, working length determination and postoperative. The length, density and taper of root fillings were recorded. The length of root fillings was recorded as adequate, short or overfilled. Density of root fillings was recorded as adequate or inadequate. Taper of root fillings was recorded as adequate or inadequate. Results were evaluated statistically using one-way analysis of variance (anova) and chi-square analysis.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine per cent, 53.2% and 68.3% of root fillings had adequate length, density and taper, respectively; only 33% of teeth fulfilled these three criteria at the same time. The relationship between the length, density and taper of the root filling and the presence of canal curvature was statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between maxillary and mandibular teeth according to the adequacy of the root fillings. The highest percentage of adequate root fillings was found in maxillary canines (51.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The percentage of adequate root fillings performed by undergraduate students was only 33%.

Resistance to fracture of roots filled with three different techniques

AIM

To compare the fracture resistance of roots filled with different materials.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty-four freshly extracted human maxillary central incisor teeth with similar dimension were selected. Crowns were sectioned at the cemento-enamel junction, and the length of the roots were adjusted to 13 mm. Following the preparation of the root canals and final irrigation with EDTA and saline, the 10 root canals in group 1 were filled with Resilon cones and Epiphany sealer, the 10 root canals in group 2 were filled with gutta-percha and AH 26 and the 10 root canals in group 3 were filled with gutta-percha and MCS Canal Sealer. All materials were used with a cold lateral condensation technique. Four root canals remained unfilled and were used as a control group. Tests for fracture strength were performed using a universal testing machine and a round tip that had a diameter of 4 mm. The force was applied vertically with a constant speed of 1 mm min(-1). For each root, the force at the time of fracture was recorded in Newtons. Results were evaluated statistically with ANOVA and Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) tests.

RESULTS

The mean force of fracture values was 1043 N, 967 N, 859 N and 517.5 N for groups 3, 1 and 2 and the control group, respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) between the experimental groups and the control group. No significant differences were found between the three experimental groups.

CONCLUSIONS

All the materials used in the present study reinforced the prepared root canals.

The musculoskeletal complications seen in type II diabetics: predominance of hand involvement

The musculoskeletal complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which are the most common endocrine arthropathy, have been generally ignored and poorly treated compared with other complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Like other quality of life issues, the musculoskeletal disability of DM has not been investigated effectively. The incidence of diabetic foot has decreased thanks to excellent foot care, but the hand is still an important target for diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to investigate early diabetic musculoskeletal complications on the basis of a collaborative multidisciplinary study design. For this purpose 78 patients (mean age 57.8 +/- 11.9 years, 55 women and 23 men) who had type II DM for 15 years maximally and 37 non-diabetic controls (mean age: 55.7 +/- 11.5, 27 women and 10 men) were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. All patients were evaluated by the Rheumatology, Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Hand Rehabilitation Divisions. Dupuytren's disease was present in 17 (21.8%) of 78 diabetic subjects as the most frequent and statistically significant complication of the musculoskeletal system. In correlation and logistic regression analysis, only retinopathy was significantly associated with duration of diabetes and diabetic foot. Long-term prospective randomised controlled trials on the effects of exercise in preventing musculoskeletal complications and disability in diabetics are needed.