Objectives. This study compared the obturation quality and push-out bond strength of single cone obturation (SCO) and cold lateral compaction (CLC) with AH-Plus and Sure Seal Root (SSR). Materials and Methods. This in vitro experimental study was conducted on 88 single-rootedsingle-canal teeth with straight roots that were randomly divided into four groups (n = 22). All teeth were decoronated and underwent cleaning and shaping. Obturation was performed with AH-Plus and SCO technique in group 1 (SAH), AH-Plus and CLC technique in group 2 (LAH), SSR and SCO technique in group 3 (SS), and SSR and CLC technique in group 4 (LS). The roots were then sectioned into 3-mm thick slices and underwent digital photography at x25 magnification to assess the quality of obturation in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds by Image J software. The PBS was measured by a universal testing machine. The mode of failure was also determined under a stereomicroscope. Results. The PBS was significantly higher in the LSS group than LAH and SAH groups, and also in the SSS group than the SAH group in all sections. The PBS in the LSS group was significantly higher than SSS in the coronal and middle thirds. Voids were significantly lower in LAH than in the SAH group in all sections. In LSS, voids in the coronal third were significantly lower than in LAH. In the middle third, voids in SSS were significantly lower than in SAH. The groups had no significant difference in the mode of failure ( > 0.05). The mean percentage of gutta-percha in the use of AH-Plus sealer was significantly higher than SSR ( < 0.05). The mean percentage of gutta-percha in the coronal third was lower than that in the middle and apical thirds ( < 0.05). Conclusion. SSR showed higher PBS and less voids than AH-Plus. High PBS of the CLC/SSR group showed that CLC should still be preferred to SCO, and in the case of using SCO, SSR should be preferred to AH-Plus.

Objectives. This study assessed the quality of endodontic treatment and the prevalence of procedural errors in permanent mandibular molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 328 CBCT scans (182 females and 146 males) of endodontically treated mandibular molars retrieved from the archives of two radiology centers in Ardabil city, Iran, in 2019. Mandibular molars were evaluated on sagittal, coronal, and axial sections regarding obturation length, obturation density (voids), missed canals, broken instruments, apical perforation, strip perforation, ledge formation, transportation, root fracture, root resorption, and periapical lesions by a senior dental student under the supervision of an oral and maxillofacial radiologist and an endodontist. Differences between the frequency of procedural errors and tooth type and gender were analyzed by the chi-square test. Results. The frequency of underfilling, missed canals, overfilling, voids, apical perforation, transportation, ledge formation, broken instruments, root fracture, strip perforation, root resorption, and periapical lesions was 34.8%, 17.4%, 16.8%, 14.3%, 7.3%, 6.1%, 4.3%, 3%, 1.2%, 0.6%, 5.5%, and 46%, respectively. The frequency of root fracture was significantly higher in females than in males . The prevalence of underfilling was the highest in right second molars (47.2%), followed by right first molars, left second molars, and left first molars . The frequency of transportation was maximum in right first molars (10%), followed by right second molars, left first molars, and left second molars . Conclusion. Underfilling, missed canals, and overfilling were the most prevalent procedural errors in mandibular molars in our study population.

A range of procedural errors can occur when performing endodontic treatment on posterior teeth. These errors may decrease the success rate in endodontic practice. This study assessed the prevalence of procedural errors and the quality of endodontic treatments in maxillary molars and premolars using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT scans from two private radiology centers were assessed retrospectively to ensure the same calculated sample size of 327 teeth for each of the four maxillary posterior tooth types (a total of 1,308 endodontically treated teeth). Image sets were evaluated for procedural errors categorized as follows: obturation length (overfilling or underfilling by >2 mm short of the root apex), missed canals, perforations, strip perforations (with extrusion of material into the furcation area), separated instruments in the root canal space, and root fracture. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and frequency data was assessed using the Monte Carlo test at the 0.05 level of significance. The procedural errors most commonly reported in the present study were from most frequent to least frequent: underfilled canals (50.0%), missed canals (27.5%), overfilled canals (12.5%), apical perforations (5.0%), separated instruments (3.1%), and root fractures (1.9%). No strip perforations (with extrusion of material into the furcation area) were seen in the study (0%). Underfilled and missed root canals were the most frequent procedural errors identified in the present study. These findings underline the importance of more consideration of critical working length management during all stages of root canal treatment, greater awareness of root canal anatomy, and the use of imaging and diagnostic devices that enhance the ability to identify and treat root canals both safely and effectively.

Background. This study compared apical extrusion of debris and instrumentation time following root canal instrumentation with Reciproc, Reciproc Blue, and Gentlefile (GF) rotary instruments versus the manual step-back technique. Methods. This in vitro study was conducted on 80 extracted mandibular premolars with mature apices and a root curvature of<10º. The teeth were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=20), standardized regarding working length, and placed in pre-weighed vials. The root canals were instrumented with Reciproc, Reciproc Blue, and GF systems and the manual step-back technique in the four groups. The vials containing the collected debris were then dried and weighed. The instrumentation time was also recorded for each group. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post hoc Games-Howell test (α=0.05). Results. Minimum apical debris extrusion was noted in Reciproc, followed by Reciproc Blue, GF, and manual technique (P<0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed significantly lower apical extrusion of debris in the Reciproc compared with GF (P=0.015) and manual instrumentation (P=0.011) groups. The Reciproc system also had the shortest instrumentation time, followed by Reciproc Blue, GF, and manual instrumentation (P<0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between all the systems (P0.05) in this respect. Conclusion. Although all systems caused apical extrusion of debris, manual instrumentation caused maximum extrusion of debris. In contrast, the Reciproc system was superior to others regarding minimal apical extrusion of debris and the shortest instrumentation time.

Proper knowledge of the anatomic structure of the root canal system is a vital prerequisite for successful root canal therapy. This report presents the endodontic management a two-rooted lower first premolar with five root canals. A similar case has not been reported to date. The use of volumetric or cone-beam CT in rare and doubtful cases helps establish an accurate diagnosis and render successful endodontic treatment thereafter. This article helps broaden our knowledge about the possible anatomic diversities as to teeth with more roots and root canals than expected normally.

Background: This study compared postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis with the RaCe rotary system and the crown-down versus the step-down technique. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 70 mandibular 1^st and 2^nd molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis and normal periradicular state were randomly assigned to two groups for single-visit endodontic treatment with RaCe rotary system and the crown-down and the step-down technique (n = 35). Postoperative pain was assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h postoperatively, using a Visual Analog Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 by repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and lLeast sSignificant Ddifference test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The two groups were not significantly different regarding the pain scores at any time point (P > 0.05). Within-group comparisons showed a significant reduction in pain score over time, starting from 12 to 168 h, postoperatively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The crown-down and step-down techniques had no significant difference regarding postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis with the RaCe rotary system.