SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF RADIOSURGERY VERSUS RADIOSURGERY WITH FORMALIN ON DENTINAL TUBULES OCCLUSION

Abstract

A Scanning Electron Microscopical (SEM) study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of radiosurgery treatment alone or adjunct to 10% formalin versus the application of formalin alone on the degree of dentinal tubules occlusion and to detect any surface abnormal changes in the root following these treatments . The experimental materials were twenty extracted human teeth . The tested teeth were scaled and root planned. Each tooth was sectioned horizontally below cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and then perpendicular to the pulp chamber to obtain a dentine disc 5 mm thick. Each dentine disc was cut into 4 small, identical wedge shaped sections . A total of 80 dentine experimental surfaces were divided into four groups, each group contained 20 specimens. Group I served as the control one which received no additional treatment , group II was treatedwith 10% formalin solution, groupiii was treated with 10% formalin solution and radiosurgery and group IV was treated with radiosurgery alone. The specimens were then fixed and examined by SEM. The results of the present study indicated that scaling and root planning performed for hypersensitive root followed by 10% formalin and radiosurgery ( partially rectified current & 3.8 MHZ frequency ) produced the most complete obliterating effect among the different treatment modalities evaluated. It is concluded that combination of mechanical and radiosurgical treatments adjunct to 10% formalin may present a longer lasting alternative choice in the treatment of dentine sensitivity.