The purpose of this study was to compare the push-out strength of a fiber post cemented with various resin cements. Newly extracted 36 human mandibular premolars which had single root canal were selected and their crown portions were removed. The root canal was instrumented using PROTAPER™ system and obturated using continuous wave technique. In each root, a 9-mm deep post space was prepared. #2 translucent fiber post (DT Light post, Bisco Inc., Schaumburg, IL, U.S.A.) was cemented using injection technique with Uni-dose needle tip (Bisco) and six different resin cements. The tested resin cements were Duo-Link (Bisco Inc., Schaumburg, IL, U.S.A.), Variolink II (Ivoclar-Vivadent AG, Schann, Liechtenstein), Panavia F (Kuraray Medical Inc., Okayama, Japan), Multilink Automix (Ivoclar-Vivadent AG, Schann, Liechtenstein), RelyX Unicem (3M ESPE Dental Products, St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.), and Maxcem (Kerr Co., CA, U.S.A.). After storage in distilled water for 24 hours, each root was transversally sectioned into approximately 1-mm thick sections. This procedure resulted in 6 serial sections per root. Push-out test was performed using a universal testing machine (EZ Test, Shimadzu Co.) with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD (p=0.05).

The push-out strength of the groups which cemented fiber post with Panavia F and Multilink Automix were lower than those of the other groups. But, there were no statistically significant difference among groups at a probability level of 0.05.

There are considerable in vitro and in vivo evidences for remineralization and demineralization occurring simultaneously in incipient enamel caries. In order to "heal"the incipient dental caries, many experiments have been carried out to determine the optimal conditions for remineralization. It was shown that remineralization is affected by different pH, lactic acid concentrations, chemical composition of the enamel, fluoride concentrations, etc.

Eighty specimens from sound permanent teeth without demineralization or cracks, 0.15 mm in thickness, were immersed in lactic acid buffered demineralization solutions for 3 days. Dental caries with a surface zone and subsurface lesion were artificially produced. Groups of 10 specimens were immersed for 10 or 12 days in lactic acid buffered remineralization solutions consisting of pH 4.3 or pH 6.0, and 100, 50, 25, or 10 mM lactic acid. After demineralization and remineralization, images were taken by polarizing microscopy (x100) and micro-computed tomography. The results were obtained by observing images of the specimens and the density of the caries lesions was determined.

As the lactic acid concentration of the remineralization solutions with pH 4.3 was higher, the surface zone of the carious enamel increased and an isotropic zone of the subsurface lesion was found. However, the total decalcification depth increased at the same time.

In the lactic acid buffer solutions with the lower pH and higher lactic acid concentration, there were dynamic changes at the deep area of the dental carious lesion.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the apical sealing according to the depth of the System B Plugger tip when root canal was filled with gutta-percha and sealer by Continuous Wave of Condensation technique in the Type IV canal.

50 simulated resin blocks with J-shaped curvature canals were instrumented by ProTaper (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballagiues, Switzerland) Ni-Ti files using the crown-down technique. Type IV canals were made using a broken ProTaper F3 Ni-Ti file for making a ledge at 3mm short from the working length. And ProTaper F1 Ni-Ti file was used for perforating resin block.

The prepared Type IV canals were randomly divided into three experimental groups of 15 each according to the depth of System B Plugger tip.

All of experimental groups were obturated with Continuous Wave of Condensation technique. The length of gutta-percha and sealer in lingual of the Type IV canals was measured with a measuring digital calliper under magnifying glass (× 2.3).

The results are as follows :

In control group, there was no gutta-percha and sealer in lingual canal.

In conclusion, within the limits of the results of this experiment, the 3 mm depth of System B Plugger tip was acceptable for obturating the Type IV canal.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of various dentin bonding systems on microtensile bond strength of immediate dentin sealing (IDS) and delayed dentin sealing (DDS). Eighteen extracted permanent molars were used in this study. The teeth for DDS group were restored with a provisional restorations, and immersed in saline solution for 1 week, and divided into 3 subgroups according to various dentin bonding adhesives; SB subgroup (3 step total-etch adhesive), SE subgroup (2 step self-etch adhesive), XE subgroup (1 step self-etch adhesive). In IDS group, the teeth were divided into 3 subgroups, and applied with bonding adhesives as in DDS group. The teeth were restored with provisional restorations, and immersed in saline solution for 1 week. Indirect composite disc was cemented with resin cement, and all specimens were subjected to microtensile bond strength. The data were statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Student t-test.

The results were as follows:

The IDS group showed significantly higher µTBS than DDS group in 3 step total-etch and 2 step self-etch adhesive (p < 0.05).

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can detect bacteria more rapidly than conventional plate counting. However DNA-based assays cannot distinguish between viable and dead cells due to persistence of DNA after cells have lost their vitality. Recently, propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment has been introduced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of the PMA treatment and real-time PCR method for cell counting in comparison with plate counting and to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of 2% CHX on E. faecalis using PMA treatment in combination with real-time PCR.

Firstly, to elucidate the relationship between the proportion of viable cells and the real-time PCR signals after PMA treatment, mixtures with different ratios of viable and dead cells were used. Secondly, relative difference of viable cells using PMA treatment in combination with real-time PCR was compared with CFU by plate counting. Lastly, antibacterial efficacy of 2% CHX on E. faecalis was measured using PMA treatment in combination with real-time PCR.

The results were as follows :

Ct value increased with decreasing proportion of viable E. faecalis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of sodium ascorbate on microtensile bond strengths of total-etching adhesive system to pulp chamber dentin treated with NaOCl.

Pulp chambers of extracted human non-caries permanent molars were treated as follows: group 1, with 0.9% NaCl; group 2, with 5.25% NaOCl; group 3, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 1min; group 4, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 1 min and 10ml of water; group 5, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 5 min; group 6, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 5 min and 10ml of water; group 7, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 10 min; group 8, with 5.25% NaOCl and 10% sodium ascorbate for 10 min and 10ml of water. Treated specimens were dried, bonded with a total-etching adhesive system (Single bond), restored with a composite resin(Z250) and kept for 24h at 100% humidity to measure the microtensile bond strength.

NaOCl-treated group (group 2) demonstrated significantly lower strength than the other groups. No significant difference in microtensile bond strengths was found between NaCl-treated group (group 1) and sodium ascorbate-treated groups (group 3-8). The results of this study indicated that dentin treated with NaOCl reduced the microtensile bond strength of Single bond. Application of 10% sodium ascorbate restored the bond strength of Single bond on NaOCl-treated dentin. Application time of sodium ascorbate did not have a significant effect.

The purpose of this research was to compare the microtensile bond strength of resin coated surface and resin inlay according temporary filling materials prior to applying self-adhesive resin cement. Caviton(GC, Japan), Provifil(Promedica, Neumunster, Germany), Provifil(Promedica, Neumunster, Germany) & petrolatum, and Eugenol-based cement, Tembond(Kerr, Orange CA, USA) were used as temporary filling materials. After fabrication of Tescera(Bisco, Schamburg IL, USA), it was bonded with a self-adhesive resin cement, Rely X unicem(3M, St. Paul. Minn, USA). After this procedure, the microtensile bond strength was measured and it was analyzed through one-way ANOVA and Duncan test(p<0.05).

Caviton(GC, Tokyo, Japan) showed statistical difference except for the control(group I) and the saliva(group II)(p<0.05). Provifil(group IV), Provifil & petroneum(group V), Tembond(group VI) had lower microtensile bond strength.

Microorganism survived in the root canal after root canal cleaning and shaping procedure is a main cause of root canal treatment failure. There are several mechanisms for the bacteria to survive in the root canal after chemomechanical preparation and root canal irrigation. Bacteria organized as biofilm has been suggested as an etiology of persistent periapical lesion. Recent studies were focus on removal of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm due to the report that the persistence of this bacteria after root canal treatment may be associated with its ability to form biofilm. Several investigations demonstrated that current root canal treatment protocol including use of NaOCl, EDTA and Chlorhexidine as irrigants is quite effective in eliminating E. faecalis biofilm. However, this microorganism still can survive in inaccessible areas of root canal system and evade host immune response, suppress immune activity and produce biofilm. Up to date, there is no possible clinical method to completely get rid of bacteria from the root canal. Once the root canal treatment failure occurred, and conventional treatment incorporating current therapeutic protocol has failed, periapical surgery or extraction should be considered rather than prolong the ineffected retreatment procedure.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of tensile stress of canal obturated maxillary second premolar with access cavity and notch-shaped class V cavity restored with composite resin using a 3D finite element analysis.

The tested groups were classified as 8 situations by only access cavity or access cavity with notch-shaped class VS cavity (S or N), loading condition (L1 or L2), and with or without glass ionomer cement base (R1 or R2). A static load of 500 N was applied at buccal and palatal cusps. Notch-shaped cavity and access cavity were filled microhybrid composite resin (Z100) with or without GIC base (Fuji II LC). The tensile stresses presented in the buccal cervical area, palatal cervical area and occlusal surface were analyzed using ANSYS.

Tensile stress distributions were similar regardless of base. When the load was applied on the buccal cusp, excessive high tensile stress was concentrated around the loading point and along the central groove of occlusal surface. The tensile stress values of the tooth with class V cavity were slightly higher than that of the tooth without class V cavity. When the load was applied the palatal cusp, excessive high tensile stress was concentrated around the loading point and along the central groove of occlusal surface. The tensile stress values of the tooth without class V cavity were slightly higher than that of the tooth with class V cavity.