The use of cotton buds for actively cleaning of the ears is common despite the old adage ‘do not put anything smaller than your elbow in the ear’. The cotton buds are commonly used to remove the ear wax. The frequently reported complications secondary to cotton bud use include wax impaction, otitis externa and tympanic membrane perforation. Not infrequently, cotton buds can lodge in the ear can...

A major cause for endodontic failure is the inability to treat all anatomy. Studies report endodontic retreatments contain 42% missed canals. This case illustrates dentin preservation of a molar with an uninstrumented mesiobuccal-3 canal revealed post-GentleWave Procedure. Efficient cleaning and disinfection with maintained healing to 18 months is demonstrated.

In this in vitro study, we investigated the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in dissolving necrotic tissue and cleaning root canals. In the first part of the study, 0.5% NaOCl solution and Ca(OH)2 paste and solution were tested with samples of necrotic bovine muscle in different treatment modes and for different periods. The necrotic tissue was weighed bef...

AIM To compare the cleaning effectiveness and shaping ability of SafeSider, ProTaper Universal and Lightspeed rotary instruments during the preparation of curved root canals in extracted human teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 63 roots with curved root canals were divided into three groups. Canals were prepared using SafeSider, ProTaper Universal or Lightspeed LSX. Using pre- and post-i...

systems rehabilitation steps on the strain and temperature rise on apical and cervical root dentin regions. Twenty-one extracted human canine teeth had two strain gages attached to the distal root surface and two thermocouples attached to the mesial root surface (cervical and apical). The strain and temperature rise were recorded during the following procedures: root canal preparation, final ri...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes associated with the use of hydroxyapatite (HA) spacer and allogeneic bone (AB) spacer in laminoplasty. METHODS From January 2006 to July 2014, 79 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament underwent cervical laminoplasty. The radiologic parameters wer...

AIM The study was designed to quantitatively evaluate the quality of root canal preparation and root canal obturation in canals treated with either rotary or self adjusting files, using three-dimensional micro-computed tomographic (CT) analysis. METHODOLOGY Pair-matched root canals were instrumented with either rotary nickel-titanium files or self-adjusting files following the manufacturers' ...

AIM To introduce the concept of variable taper instruments for predictable and ergonomic root canal preparation, and demonstrate the design features of Greater Taper files. SUMMARY Optimal root canal shaping is difficult to practice and teach with traditional instruments. Instrument sequences are complex, with up to 18 instruments and 63 procedural stages, providing almost limitless scope for...

A 16-year-old boy vomited due to heatstroke during a soccer game but continued to train hard after the game. He was admitted to our hospital for chest discomfort three days later. Chest radiograph demonstrated pneumomediastinum, and computed tomography of the neck revealed emphysema within the spinal canal (Picture 1A) at cervical level 5 (Picture 1B, red arrows). Barium esophagography revealed...

This in vitro study evaluated both the antimicrobial activity and the root canal cleaning ability of plant extracts used in irrigation solutions. The antimicrobial activities of the aroeira-da-praia (Schinus terebintifolius Raddi) and the quixabeira (Syderoxylum obtusifolium Roem & Schult) hydroalcoholic extracts, of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and of 0.12% chlorhexidine (positive control)...