Epoxy resin-based sealers are currently widely used, and several studies have considered AH Plus to be the gold-standard sealer. However, it still has limitations, including possible mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, inflammatory response, and hydrophobicity. Drawing upon the advantages of mineral trioxide aggregate, calcium silicate-based sealers were introduced with high levels of biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. Because of the hydrophilic environment in root canals, water resorption and solubility of root canal sealers are important factors contributing to their stability. Sealers displaying lower microleakage and stronger push-out bond strength are also needed to endure the dynamic tooth environment. Although the physical properties of calcium silicate-based sealers meet International Organization for Standardization recommendations, and they have consistently reported to be biocompatible, they have not overcome conventional resin-based sealers in actual practice. Therefore, further studies aiming to improve the physical properties of calcium silicate-based sealers are needed.

One of the most challenging task in closing anterior diastema is avoiding "black triangle" between the teeth.

This paper reports a case that the closure of diastema in anterior teeth could be successfully accomplished using direct adhesive restorations and gingival recontouring. The traditional technique using Mylar strip was modified to increase the emergence profile with natural contours at the gingival-tooth interface. Mylar strip was extended out of the sulcus by approximately 1 mm high from the gingival margin, and a small cotton pellet was used to provide the emergence contour. This modified approach is acceptable for the clinical situation.

Since its introduction in 1993, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) has been shown to be superior to others in sealing, biocompatibility, and many other aspects of clinical endodontics. MTA is primarily Portland cement with bismuth oxide as a radiopacitifier.

Although some studies suggested that the reasonable-priced Portland cement could be used instead of MTA, but MTAs are different from Portland cement in its composition, especially in heavy metal contents. Therefore, clinicians should be meticulous adapting the Portland cement as a MTA substitute.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of β-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of β-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of β-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM.

Addition of β-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM β-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM β-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control.

In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.

The C-shaped canal system is an anatomical variation mostly seen in mandibular second molars, although it can also occur in maxillary and other mandibular molars. The main anatomical feature of C-shaped canals is the presence of fins or web connecting the individual root canals. The complexity of C-shaped canals prevents these canals from being cleaned, shaped, and obturated effectively during root canal therapy, and sometimes it leads to an iatrogenic perforation from the extravagant preparation.

The purpose of this study was to provide further knowledge of the anatomical configuration and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall according to the level of the root.

Thirty extracted mandibular second molars with fused roots and longitudinal grooves on lingual or buccal surface of the root were collected from a native Korean population. The photo images and radiographs from buccal, lingual, apical direction were taken. After access cavity was prepared, teeth were placed in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 hours to dissolve the organic tissue of the root surface and from the root canal system. After bench dried and all the teeth were embedded in a self-curing resin. Each block was sectioned using a microtome (Accutom-50, Struers, Denmark) at interval of 1 mm. The sectioned surface photograph was taken using a digital camera (Coolpix 995, Nikon, Japan) connected to the microscope. 197 images were evaluated for canal configurations and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall between canal and external wall using' Root Thickness Gauge Program' designed with Visual Basic.

The results were as follows:

1. At the orifice level of all teeth, the most frequent observed configuration was Melton's Type C I (73%), however the patterns were changed to type C II and C III when the sections were observed at the apical third. On the other hand, the type C III was observed at the orifice level of only 2 teeth but this type could be seen at apical region of the rest of the teeth.

2. The C-shaped canal showed continuous and semi-colon shape at the orifice level, but at the apical portion of the canal there was high possibility of having 2 or 3 canals.

3. Lingual wall was thinner than buccal wall at coronal, middle, apical thirds of root but there was no statistical differences.

Ormocer has organic-inorganic compound polymers. One of advantages of ormocer is reduced polymerization shrinkage. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of contraction shrinkage of composite resins and ormocers. Additionally, the time of each material when there is no further change of contraction shrinkage was analysed.

Four brands of composite resins (P-60, Surefil, Z-250 and Denfil) and two brands of ormocers (Definite and Admira) were used. 20 seconds, 40 seconds and 60 seconds of curing times were given. Contraction shrinkage of them were measured using a linometer for 80 seconds.

The effect of material and curing time to contraction shrinkage at the time of 80 seconds was analysed by two-way ANOVA. The effect of time to contraction shrinkage was analysed by one-way ANOVA, and the time when there was no further change of the contraction shrinkage was analysed. The results are as follows :

P-60, Definite, Z-250 and Denfil had no further change of contraction shrinkage from the time of 20 seconds, and Surefil and Admira had no further change of contraction shrinkage from the time of 10 seconds.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of EDTA irrigant according to application time and temperature.

31 human mature extracted teeth with a single canal were sectioned with microtome in 3mm thickness and gained 62 samples of root canals. They were distributed randomly into 6 groups of 10 specimens each and control group of 2 specimens. Each specimen was prepared with GT rotary file (Dentsply, Maillefer Co., Swiss) and irrigated with 3 ml sodium hypochlorite every minute. Then smear layer was removed with EDTA solution (PULPDENT®, PULPDENT Co., USA.) except two control specimens. Specimens of each group were irrigated with 17% EDTA.

The time and temperature of application were as follows:

All specimens were split longitudinally and prepared for examination by scanning electron microscopy. A set of reference micrographs was used to award a debris score as follows: 0 = no smear layer, all tubules clean and open; 1 = no superficial smear layer, tubule openings visible, but some contain debris plug or soft tissue remnants; 2 = moderate smear layer, some tubules open and others closed; 3 = heavy smear layer, most/all tubule openings obscured. Results were evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis test to determine whether there was statistically significant difference among six groups. Pairs of groups were analyzed using the Student-Newman-Keuls Method and Mann-Whitney test.

The results were as follows:

1. Control specimens showed heavy smear layer at the canal walls.

2. Among the groups applied with EDTA for 2 minutes, group 1 showed the heaviest smear layer, and there was statistically significant difference between group 1 and the other groups(p<0.05).

3. Among the groups applied with EDTA for 5 minutes, group 4 and group 6 showed smear layer, but there was no significant difference between them.

4. Among the groups applied with EDTA for the same temperature, group 1 showed heavier smear layer than group 4, and there was statistically significant difference(p<0.05).

5. Among the groups applied with EDTA for the same temperature, group 2 showed heavier smear layer than group 5 and group 3 showed heavier smear layer than group 6. But there was no statistically significant difference among them.

From the results above, it could be concluded, EDTA solution is effective in removing of smear layer when it is applied for 5 minutes. If EDTA is applied for 2 minutes, it should be applied above room temperature.