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Background. Elimination of bacteria from the root canal system is one of the aims of endodontic treatment; hence the incorporation of antibiotics into sealers can increase their antimicrobial efficacy. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial effects of AH26 and AH Plus sealers mixed with amoxicillin, triple antibiotic paste and nanosilver on Enterococcus faecalis. Methods. In this experiment, amoxicillin, triple antibiotic paste and nanosilver powder were added at 10% of the total sealer weight to AH26 and AH Plus sealers and then cultured freshly or after 1, 3, and 7 days with suspension of E. faecalis for 24 hours. The zones of growth inhibition for E. faecalis were evaluated in each group. Results. Incorporation of nanosilver did not increase antibacterial effects of the sealers. Sealers combined with amoxicillin exhibited the highest antibacterial efficacy in fresh condition. In the set specimens, the results demonstrated that the mixture of sealers and triple antibiotic pastes exhibited the greatest antibacterial efficacy. Conclusion. Amoxicillin and triple antibiotic paste significantly improved the antibacterial properties of AH Plus and AH26 sealers. Such properties decreased with time, but the use of sealer-amoxicillin/triple paste combination was still superior to using sealers alone or in combination with nanosilver.

Background and Aim: Full-scale demonstration of treatment phases on actual patients by an instructor is currently the conventional technique for practical instruction on endodontics. In this method, most students do not get the chance to closely observe the clinical procedure due to the small size of oral cavity. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of an instructional multimedia program in endodontics for enhancing the knowledge and skills of dental students . Materials and Methods: In this randomized interventional trial, students taking the course of clinical endodontics were divided into two groups receiving conventional live demonstration alone or in combinationwith an instructional multimedia (DVD). Baseline knowledge of students and their level of knowledge and skills after the intervention regarding practical endodontics were assessed by a pre-test and post-test, respectively. Data were compared between the two groups using Kruskal Wallis test . Results: No significant differenceswere noted between the two groups in terms of knowledge or practical skills of students. However, the multimedia instruction significantly reduced the number of studentinquiries to instructors for troubleshooting (P

Background : Enterococcus faecalis has been widely used as a valuable microbiological pathogen for in vitro studies due to its ability to successfully colonize the root canal in a biofilm-like style, invade dentinal tubules, and resist endodontic treatment procedures.The aim of this study was to compare the bactericidal efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), 2% chlorhexidine, 2.5% NaOCl, and combination of PDT and 2.5% NaOCl against E. faecalis. Materials and Methods: Sixty single-rooted teeth had their canals contaminated with E. faecalis in brain heart infusion broth and were incubated for 48 hours.The canals were then subjected to 2% chlorhexidine, 2.5% NaOCl, PDT (red light emitting diode 625 nm+ Toludine Blue) and PDT + 2.5% NaOCl. Controls consisted of no treatment (positive control) and without inoculation of bacterium (negative control). Following treatment, the canal contents were sampled with sterile paper points.The samples were dispersed in transport medium, serially diluted, and cultured on blood agar to determine the number of colony forming units (CFU). Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test at 5% significance level. The significance level for all analyses was set at P

Background: Fungi may play a key part in periradicular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal properties of two root-end filling materials, ProRoot Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and MTA-Angelus, against Candida albicans using tube-dilution test. Materials and Methods: The antifungal properties of ProRoot MTA and MTA-Angelus against C. albicans was assessed at 1, 24, and 48 hours following administration of two concentrations of the antifungal agents (50 and 100 mg/ml). A total of 50 culture wells were divided into four experimental groups (Freshly mixed MTA, Freshly mixed MTA-Angelus, 24-h set MTA, and 24-h set MTA-Angelus) and two control groups. Each well was prepared for one specific agent with a specific concentration. For the set groups, the mixture was prepared and left for 24 hours. One milliliter of suspension of fungal colonies with concentration of 10 4 CFU/ml was then added to the mixtures in each well. All wells were incubated at 37΀C and assessed at 1, 24, and 48 hours. This observation was based on the turbidity of the suspension in the tubes. At each time point, 0.02 ml of each suspension was cultured on a Sabouraud dextrose agar plate to confirm C. albicans growth. The results were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Although all fresh and set samples were incapable of killing C. albicans at 1 hour, they demonstrated fungicidal ability on agar plates at 24 and 48-hour time points. Conclusion: MTA-angelus proved to be an effective antifungal agent compared to ProRoot MTA at concentrations of 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml.

INTRODUCTION: Dental pulp has neural fibers that produce neuropeptides like Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The inflammation of dental pulp can lead to an increase amount of SP and CGRP release, especially in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Therefore, it can be assumed that neuropeptides have some role in the progression of inflammation of the dental pulp. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the presence and concentration of neuropeptides in dental pulps of carious teeth caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, pulpal tissues were collected from 40 teeth (20 carious and 20 intact). Pulpal samples were cultured for 72 hours. ELISA reader was used for the detection of SP and CGRP in supernatant fluids. Statistical analysis was made by Mann-Whitney U and Chi square tests. RESULTS: SP and CGRP were present in 65% and 20% of inflamed pulpal samples, respectively and 40% and 5% of normal pulpal samples, respectively. Level of SP was significantly higher in inflamed pulp samples compared to intact pulps; however, there was no statistical difference when the other groups and neuropeptides were compared. The mean concentration of SP in normal pulps was 3.4 times greater than that of CGRP; interestingly in inflamed pulps the concentration of SP was 22.3 times greater than CGRP. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that in inflamed dental pulps, the concentration of SP is higher than CGRP. It can be hypothesized that CGRP has less effect on the inflammatory changes of dental pulps.

Introduction: Studies have shown the regulatory role of Leptin in bone formation, its expression in adipose tissue as well as increased levels in circulation following the adminstration of inflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, there is little data evaluating the role of Leptin in inflammatory periapical lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and concentration of Leptin in chronic periapical lesions. Materials and Methods: Chronic periapical lesions with different sizes were collected during periapical surgery of the mandibular molars from twenty patients and cultured for 72 hours. The ELISA method determined the concentration of Leptin in supernatant fluids of explants cultures. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Chi-Square and Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient). Results: Leptin was found in all samples with the average concentration of 405.55±102.98 (pg/mL). There was no significant correlation between the concentration of Leptin and BMI, and the diameters of lesions. Conclusion: Leptin can be considered an inflammatory mediator and is likely to have a role during the early phases of dental periapical lesions.

Because of the great challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of "C" configuration and lack of any systematic information about its occurrence, the purpose of the present study is to determine the prevalence of C shaped root canals in Iranian population.An exhaustive search was undertaken to identify published and unpublished researches related to the C-shaped canals by using key words. The search of the MEDLINE database included all publications from 1966 to May 2012.Then selected articles were obtained and reviewed. Data evaluated and summarized in the data sheet included methodology, population, number of teeth per study (power), number of root canals, type of root canal configuration, and c-shaped canals.Six studies were included with total of 1062 teeth, all in mandibular second molars. The total incidence of C-shaped canals in Iranian population was obtained 6.96%.The incidence of C-shaped canals in Iranian population is 6.96%, which seems much less than Asian populations but nearer to Middle East countries.

Objective: Because of the great challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of "C" configuration and lack of any systematic information about its occurrence, the purpose of the present study is to determine the prevalence of C shaped root canals in Iranian population., Methodology: An exhaustive search was undertaken to identify published and unpublished researches related to the C-shaped canals by using key words. The search of the MEDLINE database included all publications from 1966 to May 2012.Then selected articles were obtained and reviewed. Data evaluated and summarized in the data sheet included methodology, population, number of teeth per study (power), number of root canals, type of root canal configuration, and c-shaped canals., Results: Six studies were included with total of 1062 teeth, all in mandibular second molars. The total incidence of C-shaped canals in Iranian population was obtained 6.96%., Conclusions: The incidence of C-shaped canals in Iranian population is 6.96%, which seems much less than Asian populations but nearer to Middle East countries.