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Purpose: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine in inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) combined with buccal infiltration in patients with irreversible pulpitis. Methods: Group I: Thirty patients received IANB of 2% lidocaine without buccal infiltration. Group II: Thirty patients received IANB of 2% lidocaine followed by buccal infiltration with 2% lidocaine. Group III: Thirty patients received IANB with 4% articaine followed by buccal infiltration with 4% articaine. Pain during the procedures was recorded by using a Heft Parker visual analog scale. No pain or mild pain on endodontic access was recorded as success and analyzed using Chi-square analysis. Results: Group I obtained 30% success rate. Fifty percent successful anesthesia was obtained for Group II. The success rate was increased to 70% for Group III with statistically significant difference among all the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of 4% articaine as both IANB and buccal infiltration recorded the highest success rate (70%) when compared to either 2% lidocaine as IANB with buccal infiltration (50%) or 2% lidocaine as IANB alone (30%) in patients with irreversible pulpitis.

Aim: This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the fracture resistance of different metallic post and core materials. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four maxillary–central incisors were selected, standardized, and segregated into three groups (GP I–III) (n = 8) based on the type of alloy used for post and core preparation. GP I (gold alloy [Au]), GP II (chrome–cobalt alloy [Co–Cr]), and GP III (titanium alloy [Ti]) were comparatively evaluated for use as post and core materials. The teeth were endodontically treated and tooth preparation for post core was done.Metal post and cores were fabricated using indirect wax pattern and luted. Teeth were mounted on resin bases, fracture testing was done, and type of fractures were analyzed. Results: Mesiodistal type of fracture was the most common among experimental groups with a percentage incidence of 54.20%. The comminuted type of fracture was the next most common with a percentage incidence of 29.2%. The incidence of buccolingual, transverse, and other type of fracture was not common and had a percentage incidence of 29.2%, 4.2%, 8.3% and 4.2% respectively. Group II had the highest fracture resistance with a mean value of 742.89N. Group III and Group I had mean values of 482.33 and 361.1123N. Statistically significant difference between experimental groups (I and II) and (II and III) was observed in load values of root fracture (P < 0.05). Conclusion: On the basis of the protocols used and limitations of this study, among metallic post and core materials tested, GP II had the highest fracture resistance values. Further evaluation of these different post and core systems, new alloy formulations designed specifically for use as post and core materials, and assessment in a clinical setting is recommended.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare radicular smear layer removal ability of different solutions of phytic acid (PA) with other chelating agents when used in specific irrigant protocols. Materials and Methods: Seventy four maxillary central incisors were collected, standardized, and canals were prepared. A total of 5% sodium hypochlorite was used as the initial rinse solution (8 mL). Samples were divided into control (Group I—normal saline and II—7% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and experimental groups (Group III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII) based on the type of final rinse solution used, that is, 5% PA, 10% PA, 17% PA, 5% citric acid (CA), 10% CA, and 17% CA (5 mL). Samples were coded, buccolingually divided into two halves, dehydrated, mounted, splutter coated, and examined under scanning electron microscope. Results: Group IV had the least smear and debris in coronal, middle, and apical thirds with mean scores of 1.06 and 1.3, respectively. When compared with Group II, no statistically significant difference was found (P > 0.05). Overall, the Group III had the lowest erosion scores at apical, middle, and coronal one-third with a mean of 1.68. Group VII had the highest amount of erosion with loss of peritubular and intertubular dentin at all levels. Conclusion: The role of PA as final rinse solution for the removal of radicular smear is promising and comparable to other chelating agents.