This study aimed to evaluate the bleaching efficacy and hydrogen peroxide permeability in the pulp chamber by the at-home bleaching gel in protocols applied on different dental surfaces.

Forty premolars were randomly into 4 groups: control group no bleaching, only application on the buccal surface (OB), only application on the lingual surface (OL) and application in buccal and lingual surfaces, simultaneously (BL). At-home bleaching gel (White Class 7.5%) was used for the procedure. The bleaching efficacy was evaluated with a digital spectrophotometer (color change in CIELAB [ΔE _ab] and CIEDE 2000 [ΔE ₀₀] systems and Whitening Index for Dentistry [ΔWI_D]). The hydrogen peroxide permeability in the pulp chamber (µg/mL) was assessed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and data were analyzed for a 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05).

All groups submitted to bleaching procedure showed bleaching efficacy when measured with ΔE _ab and ΔE ₀₀ (p > 0.05). Therefore, when analyzed by ΔWI_D, a higher bleaching efficacy were observed for the application on the groups OB and BL (p = 0.00003). Similar hydrogen peroxide permeability was found in the pulp chambers of the teeth undergoing different protocols (p > 0.05).

The application of bleaching gel exclusively on the OB is sufficient to achieve bleaching efficacy, when compared to BL. Although the OL protocol demonstrated lower bleaching efficacy based on the ΔWI_D values, it may still be of interest and relevant in certain clinical scenarios based on individual needs, requiring clinical trials to better understand its specificities.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dentin roughening and the type of composite resin used (either bulk-fill flowable or nanohybrid) on the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) with an 18-month follow-up period.

This prospective split-mouth study included 36 patients, each with a minimum of 4 NCCLs. For each patient, 4 types of restorations were performed: unroughened dentin with nanohybrid composite, unroughened dentin with bulk-fill flowable composite, roughened dentin with nanohybrid composite, and roughened dentin with bulk-fill flowable composite. A universal bonding agent (Tetric N Bond Universal) was applied in self-etch mode for all groups. The restorations were subsequently evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months in accordance with the criteria set by the FDI World Dental Federation. Inferential statistics were computed using the Friedman test, with the level of statistical significance established at 0.05.

The 4 groups exhibited no significant differences in relation to fracture and retention, marginal staining, marginal adaptation, postoperative hypersensitivity, or the recurrence of caries at any follow-up point.

Within the limitations of the present study, over an 18-month follow-up period, no significant difference was present in the clinical performance of bulk-fill flowable and nanohybrid composite restorations of non-carious cervical lesions. This held true regardless of whether dentin roughening was performed.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a single-file reciprocating system (WaveOne Gold, WOG) and a multi-file rotary system (ProTaper Universal Retreatment, PTUR) in removing canal filling from severely curved canals and to evaluate the possible adjunctive effects of XP-Endo Finisher (XPF), the Self-Adjusting File (SAF), and an erbium, chromium: yttrium, scandium, gallium garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser using micro-computed tomography (μCT).

Sixty-six curved mandibular molars were divided into 2 groups based on the retreatment technique and then into 3 based on the supplementary method. The residual filling volumes and root canals were evaluated with μCT before and after retreatment, and after the supplementary steps. The data were statistically analyzed with the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, analysis of covariance, and factorial analysis of variance (p < 0.05).

PTUR and WOG showed no significant difference in removing filling materials (p > 0.05). The supplementary techniques were significantly more effective than reciprocating or rotary systems only (p < 0.01). The supplementary steps showed no significant differences in canal filling removal effectiveness (p > 0.05), but XPF showed less dentin reduction than the SAF and Er,Cr:YSGG laser (p < 0.01).

The supplementary methods significantly decreased the volume of residual filling materials. XPF caused minimal changes in root canal volume and might be preferred for retreatment in curved root canals. Supplementary approaches after retreatment procedures may improve root canal cleanliness.

The aim of this study was to examine the use of hand or rotary files by pre-graduation (fourth- and fifth-year) and postgraduate students in endodontic treatments and to determine the incidence of file fracture and the management of cases with broken instruments.

A total of 2,168 teeth undergoing primary endodontic treatment were included in this study. It was determined that 79 of these teeth resulted in broken tools. In the case of broken tools, the education level of the treating clinician, the tooth that was being treated, the canal and fracture level, the curvature of the tooth and the management of the broken instrument were recorded. Periapical radiographs of the patients were used to calculate curvature following the Schneider method.

There was no significant difference in the incidence of broken tools according to education level (p > 0.05). The incidence of file fracture in molar teeth (73.4%) was higher than in other teeth (p < 0.05). More files were broken in the mandibular molar MB canal (20.25%) and in the apical third of the canals (72.1%). The risk of instrument fracture was high in teeth with moderate (44.3%) and severe (38%) curvature canals. The management of apically broken (80%) files mostly involved lefting (p < 0.05).

There was no statistically significant difference between fourth-year students, fifth-year students and postgraduate students in terms of instrument fracture.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of different topical/systemic agents in reducing the damage caused by bleaching gel to pulp tissue or cells.

Electronic searches were performed in July 2023. In vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the effects of different topical or systemic agents on pulp inflammation or cytotoxicity after exposure to bleaching agents were included. The risk of bias was assessed.

Out of 1,112 articles, 27 were included. Nine animal studies evaluated remineralizing/anti-inflammatories agents in rat molars subjected to bleaching with 35%–38% hydrogen peroxide (HP). Five of these studies demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammation caused by HP when combined with bioglass or MI Paste Plus (GC America), or following KF-desensitizing or Otosporin treatment (n = 3). However, orally administered drugs did not reduce pulp inflammation (n = 4). Cytotoxicity (n = 17) was primarily assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on human dental pulp cells and mouse dental papilla Cell-23 cells. Certain substances, including sodium ascorbate, butein, manganese chloride, and peroxidase, were found to reduce cytotoxicity, particularly when applied prior to bleaching. The risk of bias was high in animal studies and low in laboratory studies.

Few in vivo studies have evaluated agents to reduce the damage caused by bleaching gel to pulp tissue. Within the limitations of these studies, it was found that topical agents were effective in reducing pulp inflammation in animals and cytotoxicity. Further analyses with human pulp are required to substantiate these findings.

PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42022337192

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of eye dominance on color perception, and shade matching.

A total of 104 participants were selected for the study. There were 3 groups: Group I: 3rd and 4th year dental students and interns (n = 40); Group II: postgraduates (n = 34); Group III: senior residents and faculty members (≥ 6 years of clinical experience) (n = 30). All participants were evaluated for congenital color blindness with Ishihara plates, their dominant eye with Mile's test, and their color perception with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test. The shade guide test was used for shade matching with a second corresponding set of Vitapan classical shade guides.

The results of Mile’s test revealed that 60.6% were right-eye dominant and 39.4% were left-eye dominant. There was a statistically significant difference among all participants between the dominant eye and the non-dominant eye in shade matching.

The dominant eye has a positive effect on shade matching and the ability to match shades becomes better with an increase in clinical experience.

This scientometric and bibliometric analysis explored scientific publications related to hydraulic calcium silicate-based (HCSB) sealers used in endodontology, aiming to describe basic bibliometric indicators and analyze current research trends.

A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Science and Scopus using specific HCSB sealer and general endodontic-related terms. Basic research parameters were collected, including publication year, authorship, countries, institutions, journals, level of evidence, study design and topic of interest, title terms, author keywords, citation counts, and density.

In total, 498 articles published in 136 journals were retrieved for the period 2008–2023. Brazil was the leading country, and the universities of Bologna in Italy and Sao Paolo in Brazil were represented equally as leading institutions. The most frequently occurring keywords were “calcium silicate,” “root canal sealer MTA-Fillapex,” and “biocompatibility,” while title terms such as “calcium,” “sealers,” “root,” “canal,” “silicate based,” and “endodontic” occurred most often. According to the thematic map analysis, “solubility” appeared as a basic theme of concentrated research interest, and “single-cone technique” was identified as an emerging, inadequately developed theme. The co-occurrence analysis revealed 4 major clusters centered on sealers’ biological and physicochemical properties, obturation techniques, retreatability, and adhesion.

This analysis presents bibliographic features and outlines changing trends in HCSB sealer research. The research output is dominated by basic science articles scrutinizing the biological and specific physicochemical properties of commonly used HCSB sealers. Future research needs to be guided by studies with a high level of evidence that utilize innovative, sophisticated technologies.