Introduction: The full decontamination and disinfection of the root canal system is essential for the success of regenerative endodontic procedures. The current literature does not have information regarding mechanical cleaning of immature teeth with contemporary endodontic instuments. Aim: To compare the thickness and volume of the dentin removed from the roots of immature teeth after endodontic preparation using XP-endo Finisher, GentleFile Brush and a standard H-file scraping technique through micro-computed tomography. Methods: The study included 51 immature permanent molars. Endodontic access was prepared and without performing preliminary extirpation of the pulp, the teeth were divided into three groups. The first group of teeth were instrumented for two minutes with XP-endo Finisher, the second - two minutes with Gentlefile Brush, in the third group the root canals walls were scraped with a No. 40 H-file. The thickness and the volume of the removed dentin was assessed using micro-CT imaging before and after the use of the instruments. Results: There is no statistically significant difference in the mean values of thickness of dentin removed between the teeth, prepared with XP-endo finisher and Gentlefile Brush. When comparing the mean values of volume of dentin removed between the separate groups, a statistically significant difference was discovered for every compared pair with the highest volume of removed dentin in the group prepared with a hand instrument. Conclusion: The endodontic systems tested when used in immature permanent teeth remove significantly less quantity of hard dental structures compared to a hand file for scraping the root canal.

The stamp technique with bulk-fill composites aims to enhance occlusal surface replication in Class I restorations. Limited research exists on its void formation and volumetric changes. This study measures internal and external voids as well as volumetric changes in occlusal surfaces for both the stamp and conventional bulk-fill techniques. Materials and methods: Twenty-four permanent molars were divided into two groups (n = 12 each): Group 1 (conventional bulk fill) and Group 2 (stamp technique with bulk-fill composite). Standardized Class I cavities were prepared and restored using Tetric EvoCeram^® Bulk Fill composite. Micro-CT scanning was performed before and after restoration to quantify internal and external void percentages and volumetric changes. An independent samples t-test (α = 0.05) was used to compare void percentages and volumetric changes between groups. Results: The mean internal void percentage was similar between groups (Group 1: 0.38 ± 0.22%; Group 2: 0.39 ± 0.30%; p = 0.914), indicating comparable internal adaptation. Group 2 showed a significantly higher external void percentage (17.59 ± 1.76%) compared to Group 1 (9.05 ± 1.98%; p < 0.001), attributed to the stamp technique’s precise replication of occlusal micromorphology, misinterpreted as porosity by analysis software. Fractal dimension analysis revealed that the stamp technique resulted in the formation of a more complex structure. Restoration volumes (Group 1: 34.10 ± 8.09 mm³; Group 2: 35.52 ± 4.80 mm³; p = 0.639) and volumetric changes (Group 1: 5.91 ± 2.72 mm³; Group 2: 4.64 ± 1.31 mm³; p = 0.199) showed no significant differences. in conclusion, the stamp technique produced internal void percentages comparable to the conventional bulk-fill method in Class I restorations. The significantly higher external void percentage in the stamp technique group was due to the accurate replication of occlusal micromorphology, which was detected as porosity by analysis software. No significant differences were observed in volumetric changes of the occlusal surface before and after restoration between the two techniques, supporting the clinical viability of the stamp technique for precise occlusal restorations.

Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (JOCPD) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, which is currently indexed in SCIE, etc., aming to provide clinically relevant information to enable the practicing dentist to have access to the state of the art in pediatric dentistry.

Background/Objectives: The management of immature teeth with wide apical foramina presents significant challenges in endodontic treatment due to difficulties in achieving a hermetic seal. The aim of this study was to evaluate void formation in apical plugs created using three calcium silicate-based materials—Biodentine, NuSmile NeoPUTTY, and Well-Root PT—applied with the help of manual, ultrasonic, or rotary file condensation (XP-endo Shaper) in 3D-printed immature teeth. Methods: Micro-computed tomography analysis was used to assess the internal, external, and total void percentage of material volume. The statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and the post hoc Bonferroni test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The materials and techniques used individually do not significantly influence the formation of internal voids, but their combination does (F(4, 99) = 2.717, p = 0.034). Both factors and their interaction are significant for external voids (F(4, 99) = 4.169, p = 0.004), and all have a notable effect on total void percentages (F(4, 99) = 3.456, p = 0.012). No significant differences were observed in internal voids across the groups (p > 0.05), ranging from 0.635% to 1.078%. External voids varied significantly, with Well-Root PT and ultrasonic condensation showing the highest values with a significant difference (p < 0.05), while NeoPUTTY and Biodentine with XP-endo Shaper exhibited the lowest. Total voids remained below 4%, with no significant differences among manual condensation groups. Neither material type nor application technique consistently influenced void formation, except for Well-Root PT with ultrasonic condensation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that modern bioceramic materials and application techniques produce comparable, low-void apical plugs, with XP-endo Shaper showing promise for minimizing external voids. The interaction between material and application technique plays a crucial role during the creation of apical plugs.

Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (JOCPD) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, which is currently indexed in SCIE, etc., aming to provide clinically relevant information to enable the practicing dentist to have access to the state of the art in pediatric dentistry.

Objective: To investigate the influence of citric acid on the osteogenic and angiogenic potential of stem cells from apical papillae (SCAPs). Materials and methods: Stem cells from apical papillae were isolated from freshly extracted third permanent molars. These cells were treated with 20 and 100 μM citric acid. Alizarin red staining was used to evaluate mineral deposition. The secreted levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed by ELISA on days 18, 24 and 28. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed to assess the expression of surface markers after exposure to 20 and 100 μM citric acid. Results: Different mineralisation patterns were observed. Supplemented with citric acid, media showed more diffuse and less dense crystals. On day 18, most VEGF was secreted from the cells with no added citric acid. On day 24, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the levels of VEGF secreted from cells treated with 20 μM citric acid. On day 28, cells from the control group did not secrete VEGF. There was a reduction in the levels of VEGF secreted by cells treated with 20 μM citric acid and a significant increase in the cells exposed to 100 μM citric acid (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Citric acid can promote the differentiation of SCAPs and angiogenesis.