Artificial Intelligence in Endodontics: Current Applications and Future Directions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has remarkably increased its presence and significance in a wide range of sectors, including dentistry. It can mimic the intelligence of humans to undertake complex predictions and decision-making in the healthcare sector, particularly in endodontics. The models of AI, such as convolutional neural networks and/or artificial neural networks, have shown a variety of applications in endodontics, including studying the anatomy of the root canal system, forecasting the viability of stem cells of the dental pulp, measuring working lengths, pinpointing root fractures and periapical lesions and forecasting the success of retreatment procedures. Future applications of this technology were considered in relation to scheduling, patient care, drug-drug interactions, prognostic diagnosis, and robotic endodontic surgery. In endodontics, in terms of disease detection, evaluation, and prediction, AI has demonstrated accuracy and precision. AI can aid in the advancement of endodontic diagnosis and therapy, which can enhance endodontic treatment results. However, before incorporating AI models into routine clinical operations, it is still important to further certify the cost-effectiveness, dependability, and applicability of these models.

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Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry: Past, Present, and Future

Accuracy of different generations of apex locators in determining working length; a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of three electronic apex locators (EALs) (Dentaport ZX [J Morita, Tokyo, Japan], Propex Pixi [Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland], and iPex II [NSK, Tokyo, Japan]) during root canal retreatment. Methods. The root canal lengths of 90 extracted single-rooted human teeth were determined under a dental operating microscope at ×10 magnification. The actual working length (AWL) was 0.5 mm less than the root length. Electronic measurements were performed with the three EALs. The root canals were instrumented and filled to the actual working length using the lateral compaction technique. After seven days, the teeth were retreated until the retreatment file was applied to the root canal at the working length determined by EALs, and then, the three EALs were used for determining the retreatment working length. Data were analyzed using chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results. In the retreatment, the accuracy of EALs was reported at %83.3 for Dentaport ZX, %83.4 forPropex Pixi, and %80 for iPex II within a tolerance of 0.5± mm of the AWL. Conclusion. Under the limitations of this study, Dentaport ZX, Propex Pixi, and iPex II can be a useful adjunct during retreatment. Clinicians should be aware that residual materials in the root canal during retreatment can affect the accuracy of EALs.

https://joddd.tbzmed.ac.ir/PDF/joddd-14-125.pdf

Evaluation of the accuracy of different apex locators in determining the working length during root canal retreatment.

In Vivo Strain Alterations in Mandibular Molars after Root Canal Treatment Procedures.

In Vivo Evaluation of 3 Electronic Apex Locators: Root ZX Mini, Apex ID, and Propex Pixi

The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial potential of AH plus supplemented with bismuth lipophilic nanoparticles (BisBAL NPs) on the growth of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from patients with endodontic infections. BisBAL NPs, synthesized with the colloidal method, were characterized, in its pure form or AH Plus-absorbed, by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (EDS-SEM). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated with disc diffusion assays, and antibiofilm activity with fluorescence microscopy. BisBAL NP-supplemented AH Plus had a 4.9 times higher antimicrobial activity than AH Plus alone (p = 0.0001). In contrast to AH Plus alone, AH Plus supplemented with BisBAL NP inhibited E. faecalis biofilm formation. The sealing properties of AH plus were not modified by the incorporation of BisBAL NPs, which was demonstrated by a 12-day split-chamber leakage assay with daily inoculation, which was used to evaluate the possible filtration of E. faecalis. Finally, BisBAL NP-supplemented AH plus-BisBAL NPs was not cytotoxic for cultured human gingival fibroblasts. Their viability was 83.7% to 89.9% after a 24-h exposure to AH Plus containing 50 and 10 µM BisBAL NP, respectively. In conclusion, BisBAL NP-supplemented AH Plus constitutes an innovative nanomaterial to prevent re-infection in endodontic patients without cytotoxic effects.

Antimicrobial potential of AH Plus supplemented with bismuth lipophilic nanoparticles on E. faecalis isolated from clinical isolates

AIM
This study evaluated and compared the shaping ability of four rotary instrument systems in long oval root canals using microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT) evaluation. Currently, there is no data available on the canal shaping abilities of BlueShaper and DC Taper instruments.


METHODOLOGY
Sixty-four single-rooted mandibular premolars were matched based on similar root canal morphologic features as determined by (micro-CT) and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental groups (n=16) according to the instrument system used: BlueShaper, TruNatomy, DC Taper, and HyFlex EDM One File. Changes in the root canal surface and volume, remaining dentine thickness, and number of prepared areas were assessed.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found amongst the four instrument systems for the parameters evaluated (p >.05). There was a significant reduction in the number of unprepared areas and the remaining dentine thickness after each increase in size of the instruments tested (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The four instrument systems perform similarly in long oval root canals. Although none could prepare all canal walls, larger preparations incorporated significantly more surfaces in the final shape.

Shaping ability of BlueShaper, TruNatomy, DC Taper and HyFlex EDM in long oval canals: an ex vivo study.

Abstract We evaluated four root canal sealers to determine their antimicrobial effectiveness against E. faecalis. The direct contact test was used to measure the effectiveness of the study materials and close contact between bacteria on the kinetics of bacterial growth. The agar diffusion test (ADT) was also performed for comparison. Using one-way ANOVA and the F-test, significant differences between the sealers were confirmed. Whereas BioRoot endodontic sealer had an antimicrobial effect statistically similar to the zinc oxide-eugenol control (p=.99), EndoSequence sealer and AH Plus sealer both had a significantly lower antimicrobial effect than the control (p=.0000266 and p=.0000068, respectively).

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/26415275.2022.2071719?needAccess=true

Jorge Jaime Flores-Trevino

Papers

In Vivo Evaluation of 3 Electronic Apex Locators: Root ZX Mini, Apex ID, and Propex Pixi

Antimicrobial potential of AH Plus supplemented with bismuth lipophilic nanoparticles on E. faecalis isolated from clinical isolates

Shaping ability of BlueShaper, TruNatomy, DC Taper and HyFlex EDM in long oval canals: an ex vivo study.

Antimicrobial effectiveness of root canal sealers against Enterococcus faecalis