Use of artificial primary teeth for endodontic laboratory research: experiments related to canal length determination

André Ito,Carmela R Bresolin,José Carlos P Imparato,Fausto M Mendes,Cacio Moura-Netto,Anna Carolina V Mello-Moura,Angela T Araki

doi:10.1186/s12903-017-0420-3

Abstract

BackgroundDue to the scarcity of exfoliated/extracted human primary teeth with complete roots, artificial teeth were developed as an alternative to be used for educational and laboratory research purposes. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using artificial primary teeth for conducting laboratory research through an experiment related to canal length determination, comparing artificial teeth with natural teeth.MethodsThirty anterior and 21 posterior artificial teeth, and the same number of natural primary teeth were selected. After preparing the access cavity, the root canal length was determined by two examiners twice using three different methods: radiography and two electronic apex locators. Then, the actual root canal length was measured by inserting a K-file up to the apical foramen (reference standard). Accuracy was calculated using Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility was also calculated using the ICC.ResultsThe methods using the electronic apex locators showed better accuracy in both artificial and natural teeth. Trends observed with artificial primary teeth were similar to those observed with natural teeth, except for the results in artificial anterior teeth.ConclusionsThe model of artificial teeth might be a good alternative for educational purposes; however, improvements are necessary to employ these teeth for research purposes when considering experiments for canal length determination.

Highlights

Due to the scarcity of exfoliated/extracted human primary teeth with complete roots, artificial teeth were developed as an alternative to be used for educational and laboratory research purposes
Regarding the intra-examiner reproducibility, we observed that all methods presented high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values in anterior and posterior using both natural or artificial primary teeth, with values higher than 0.78 for all methods
Considering the anterior teeth, with the Bland-Altman analysis, we observed that the use of the electronic apex locators devices resulted in a better correspondence with the actual root canal length obtained by the reference standard method for both natural and artificial teeth, since the range between the 95% limits of agreement was narrower than those for the other methods (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Due to the scarcity of exfoliated/extracted human primary teeth with complete roots, artificial teeth were developed as an alternative to be used for educational and laboratory research purposes. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using artificial primary teeth for conducting laboratory research through an experiment related to canal length determination, comparing artificial teeth with natural teeth. The maintenance of primary teeth until the period of exfoliation is a major goal of pediatric dentistry, since they have a fundamental role in aesthetics, phonetics, function and in guiding permanent succedaneous teeth [1]. In some situations, such as trauma and extensive carious lesions, endodontic treatment is the best choice for preservation of teeth [2]. Laboratory research is warranted to investigate possible improvements in the technique of endodontic treatment in primary

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