Non-surgical root canal therapy (RCT) represents a standard of treatment that addresses infected pulp tissue in teeth and protects against future infection while preserving the tooth for the patient for mainly cosmetic purposes. RCT is offered as the better cosmetic, cheaper, and less time intensive treatment option for a patient compared to those of dental implantation. Dental implantation is the alternative to RCT, and they are both originally offered at the time of the initial consultation. RCT involves non-surgically removing dental pulp comprising blood vessels and nerve tissue, decontaminating residually infected tissue, and using a filler material to replace the non-surgically created space where the pulp was removed. Currently, standard of care treatment for RCT utilizes gutta-percha as the root canal filling material. Our research group has previously demonstrated NDGP's improvement in tensile strength compared to those of gutta-percha. This research studies a new type of filler, gutta-percha modified by the addition of nanodiamond material (NDGP). This is an equivalence study of NDGP and standard gutta-percha administration.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
4
Gutta percha reinforced with 5 nm diameter nanodiamonds 5 wt % (NDGP).
Gutta percha is a device made from coagulated sap of certain tropical trees intended to fill the root canal of a tooth. The gutta percha is softened by heat and inserted into the root canal, where it hardens as it cools. Gutta percha is classified as Class I (general controls).
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Percent Reduction in Apical Radio-lucency
A radiograph of the treated tooth is made after 6 months post treatment, which will be compared with the radiograph of the treated tooth taken immediately after the RCT procedure. Clinical examination is performed at 6 months after the operation. The greatest diameters (mm) of the radio-lucency were recorded.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Participants With Absence of Apical Periodontitis
Apical periodontitis resulting in pain and apical lucency is measured. A radiograph of the treated tooth is made after 1 year post treatment, which will be compared with the radiographs of the treated tooth taken immediately after the RCT procedure and 6 months post treatment. Clinical examination is performed at 1 year after the operation.
Time frame: 1 year
Number of Participants With Post-Operative Pain
Clinical examination is performed at 6 month after the operation to determine post-operative pain. Pain was assessed via a postoperative survey and a clinical examination (comparative pain scale 0 - 10; 0 is no pain and 10 is spontaneous pain).
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Participants With Tooth Survival (6 Month)
A radiograph of the treated tooth is made after 6 months post treatment, which will be compared with the radiograph of the treated tooth taken immediately after the RCT procedure. Clinical examination is performed at 6 months after the operation.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Participants With Tooth Survival (1 Year)
A radiograph of the treated tooth is made after 1 year post treatment, which will be compared with the radiographs of the treated tooth taken immediately after the RCT procedure and 6 months post treatment. Clinical examination is performed at 1 year after the operation.
Time frame: 1 year
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