Search

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the success rate of partial pulpotomy using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), in permanent molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Moreover, this study aimed to investigate the effect of carious lesion depth and activity and bleeding time on the outcome of partial pulpotomy. Forty permanent molars with deep and extremely deep carious lesions clinically diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were included. The status of the carious lesion was evaluated clinically and radiographically to determine its activity (rapidly or slowly progressing) and depth (deep or extremely deep). A partial pulpotomy was performed and MTA was used. Clinical and radiographic analysis were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months. Chi-square analysis and Fisher's exact test were used. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-rays were used to investigate the crystalline structures and their chemical composition onto MTA surfaces after immersion in several conditions. The partial pulpotomy was 88.9% successful, with no significant difference in outcome between deep and extremely deep carious lesions ( p = 0.22) or between rapidly and slowly progressing lesions ( p = 0.18). Nevertheless, all failed cases were associated with rapidly progressing lesions and extremely deep lesions. All failures occurred when the bleeding time was more than 3 min ( p = 0.10). Different crystalline structures were detected on MTA surfaces, with higher calcium percentages in PBS conditions. Within the limitations of the present study, favorable results demonstrated that MTA might be recommended as a suitable agent for partial pulpotomy in permanent molars with irreversible pulpitis. The depth and activity of the carious lesion as well as the bleeding time are important factors in the success of partial pulpotomy treatment. The prolonged bleeding time and the extremely deep rapidly progressing caries could be related with the failure cases in partial pulpotomy treatment of irreversible pulpitis.

Diet has not been investigated as a potential risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in the Syrian Arab Republic. In a hospital-based, unmatched case-control study 108 people with cancer and 105 controls were interviewed about dietary intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire in Arabic. Sociodemographic and health risk behavioural information were collected by a self-completed questionnaire. Adjusting for age, sex, education level, working status and tobacco smoking, the multiple regression analysis showed that low intake of vegetables (OR 3.8; 95% CI: 1.57-9.10), cereal/cereal products (OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.12-5.99) and high-caffeine beverages (OR 3.2; 95% CI: 1.34-7.43) increased the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, whereas a low level of fats and oils intake decreased the risk (OR 0.6; 95% CI: 0.24-1.30). These findings should be considered in national health promotion programmes in the Syrian Arab Republic.