Abstract
At the last stage in infected root canal treatment, it is essential to know the appropriate timing for root canal filling. Traditionally, the existence of intracanal exudates, bad odor, and simple culture tests have been utilized. However, the low objectivity and long time of these methods have limited their use in clinical scenes. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the possibility of judging the timing for root canal filling, by measuring the paper points used for root canal medication by DIAGNOdent®, which is said to be useful in detecting caries. Different root canal medicaments (formcresol, formalin guaiacol, phenol camphor, Creodon®, Methocol®, chloramphenicol, and tincture of iodine), were soaked in paper points and measured by DIAGNOdent® at hourly intervals. Yellowish pus and transparent fluid collected in root canals during infected root canal treatment were measured in the same way. After these, the relations among clinical symptoms of a total of 57 cases, their DIAGNOdent® values (D values), and results of simple culture test at 24, 48, 72 hours were assessed statistically using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (p<0.05). These showed that each medicament had a D value between 1 to 5, some of which changed a little as time passed, and that the D value of yellowish pus was higher than that of transparent fluid, both of which increased gradually as time passed. A significant statistical difference was noted between clinical symptoms and D values, but it was not noted between culture tests and D values. It is suggested that DIAGNOdent® measurement of paper points used in root canal medicament could be one of the indications in judging the appropriate time for root canal filling.
