Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Intentional tooth replantation (ITR) is an advanced treatment modality and the procedure of last resort for preserving teeth with inaccessible endodontic or resorptive lesions. ITR is defined as the deliberate extraction of a tooth; evaluation of the root surface, endodontic manipulation, and repair; and placement of the tooth back into its original socket. Case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ITR in the retention of natural teeth that are untreatable or difficult to manage with root canal treatment or endodontic microsurgery. However, variations in clinical protocols for ITR exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the field of oral biology and dental materials. This heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners; therefore, guidelines and considerations for ITR should be explicated. This expert consensus discusses the biological foundation of ITR, the available clinical protocols and current status of ITR in treating teeth with refractory apical periodontitis or anatomical aberration, and the main complications of this treatment, aiming to refine the clinical management of ITR in accordance with the progress of basic research and clinical studies; the findings suggest that ITR may become a more consistent evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Consensus ; Periapical Periodontitis/surgery*

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective:To investigate the association between serum levels of thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and antibodies and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) .Methods:A total of 1 502 patients with PTC who were admitted to the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2022 were retrospectively enrolled, including males ( n=431), females ( n=1 071), aged < 55 years ( n=1 271), and ≥ 55 years old ( n=231). All patients were pathologically confirmed to have PTC after surgery. Univariate analysis was performed on the general data of patients and the indexes in the postoperative pathology report and the LNM group, and the data of P<0.05 in the analysis were included in the regression analysis to determine the independent risk factors of cervical LNM in PTC patients. Patients were divided into 8 subgroups according to the different statuses of the three thyroid antibodies (TGAb, TPOAb, TRAb) : [ (+) indicates positive; (-) indicates negative]. According to the order of TGAb, TPOAb, and TRAb, there are the following 8 states, 1 (+++) ; 2 (---) ; 3 (++-) ; 4 (+--) ; 5 (+-+) ; 6 (-+-) ; 7 (-++) ; 8 (--+). The differences in general clinical information, Tg and TSH between the two groups were compared, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve of Tg in the diagnosis of PTC lymph node metastasis was constructed, and regression analysis was used to explore the diagnostic value of serological indicators in the diagnosis of cervical LNM in PTC. Results:In this study, compared with the non-metastasis group, there were 308 males (33.2%) and 225 patients (24.3%) with bilateral PTC in metastasis group. The mean serum Tg value was (25.5±2.1) ng/mL and the TSH level was significantly increased ( P<0.05), and the results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that males ( OR=1.57, P<0.001), bilateral PTC ( OR=1.448, P<0.001), non-papillary carcinoma (>10 mm) ( OR=1.745, P<0.001) and increased Tg level ( OR=1.007, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients, and the area under the ROC curve of Tg in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis was 0.634 [95% CI (0.636, 0.691), P<0.05], while the TSH status was 0.56-1.39 ( OR=0.375, P=0.013). 1.40-2.29 ( OR=0.422, P=0.003) ; 2.30-5.91 ( OR=0.466, P=0.004) ; ≥5.91 ( OR=0.41, P=0.001) was not a risk factor. Conclusion:Male sex, bilateral thyroid cancer, non-papillary carcinoma (>10 mm), and preoperative serum Tg>29.8 ng/mL are the influencing factors of LNM in PTC patients.

Endodontic diseases are a kind of chronic infectious oral disease.Common endodontic treatment concepts are based on the removal of inflamed or necrotic pulp tissue and the replacement by gutta-percha.However,it is very essential for endodontic treatment to debride the root canal system and prevent the root canal system from bacterial reinfection after root canal therapy(RCT).Recent research,encompassing bacterial etiology and advanced imaging techniques,contributes to our understanding of the root canal system's anatomy intricacies and the technique sensitivity of RCT.Success in RCT hinges on factors like patients,infection severity,root canal anatomy,and treatment techniques.Therefore,improving disease management is a key issue to combat endodontic diseases and cure periapical lesions.The clinical difficulty assessment system of RCT is established based on patient conditions,tooth conditions,root canal configuration,and root canal needing retreatment,and emphasizes pre-treatment risk assessment for optimal outcomes.The findings suggest that the presence of risk factors may correlate with the challenge of achieving the high standard required for RCT.These insights contribute not only to improve education but also aid practitioners in treatment planning and referral decision-making within the field of endodontics.

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment.However,irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear.The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved,impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes.Additionally,ambiguous clinical indications for root canal medication and non-standardized dressing protocols must be clarified.Inappropriate intracanal medication may present side effects and jeopardize the therapeutic outcomes.Indeed,clinicians have been aware of these concerns for years.Based on the current evidence of studies,this article reviews the properties of various irrigants and intracanal medicaments and elucidates their effectiveness and interactions.The evolution of different kinetic irrigation methods,their effects,limitations,the paradigm shift,current indications,and effective operational procedures regarding intracanal medication are also discussed.This expert consensus aims to establish the clinical operation guidelines for root canal irrigation and a position statement on intracanal medication,thus facilitating a better understanding of infection control,standardizing clinical practice,and ultimately improving the success of endodontic therapy.

Alveolar bone,the protruding portion of the maxilla and the mandible that surrounds the roots of teeth,plays an important role in tooth development,eruption,and masticatory performance.In oral inflammatory diseases,including apical periodontitis,periodontitis,and peri-implantitis,alveolar bone defects cause the loosening or loss of teeth,impair the masticatory function,and endanger the physical and mental health of patients.However,alveolar bone restoration is confronted with great clinical challenges due to the the complicated effect of the biological,mechanical,and chemical factors in the oral microenvironment.An in-depth understanding of the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms will contribute to the exploration of new targets for alveolar bone restoration.Recent studies have shown that Notch,Wnt,Toll-like receptor(TLR),and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathways regulate the proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis,and autophagy of osteoclasts,osteoblasts,osteocytes,periodontal ligament cells,macrophages,and adaptive immune cells,modulate the expression of inflammatory mediators,affect the balance of the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand/receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB/osteoprotegerin(RANKL/RANK/OPG)system,and ultimately participate in alveolar bone restoration.Additionally,alveolar bone restoration involves AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT),Hippo/YAP,Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT),and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)signaling pathways.However,current studies have failed to construct mature molecular regulatory networks for alveolar bone restoration.There is an urgent need for further research on the molecular regulatory mechanisms of alveolar bone restoration by using new technologies such as single-cell transcriptome sequencing and spatial transcriptome sequencing.

Objective To investigate the effects of stromal cell-derived factor 1α(SDF-1α)on the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes and the underlying mechanisms.Methods Chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joints of neonatal mice.The chondrocytes were then stimulated with 0(the control group),50,100,and 200 ng/mL of SDF-1α.CCK-8 assay was performed to determine the effects of SDF-1α stimulation for 24 h,48 h,and 72 h on the viability of the chondrocytes.Wound healing assay was conducted to determine the effects of SDF-1α stimulation for 12 h and 24 h on chondrocyte migration.The changes in the expression of Akt signaling pathway proteins in chondrocytes were determined by Western blot assay.Chondrocytes were stimulated with 0(the control group)and 200 ng/mL of SDF-1α.Flow cytometry was performed to determine the effect of SDF-1α on the apoptosis of chondrocytes.Transmission electron microscope was used to examine the effect of SDF-1α on chondrocyte autophagy.Immunofluorescence staining assays were performed to visualize the differences in p-Akt expression and distribution in chondrocytes treated with SDF-1α.Results Compared with the control group,findings for the experimental groups showed that SDF-1α at the concentrations of 50,100,and 200 ng/mL did not decrease chondrocyte activity at any time point(P<0.01)and it consistently promoted chondrocyte migration at 24 h(P<0.05).Western blot results revealed that,in comparison to the control group,SDF-1α at concentrations of 50,100,and 200 ng/mL significantly up-regulated the protein expression of p-Akt in chondrocytes,while no significant difference in Akt expression was observed.Flow cytometry demonstrated that SDF-1α could inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis(P<0.05)and transmission electron microscopic observation showed that SDF-1α promoted chondrocyte autophagy(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of p-Akt in chondrocytes was concentrated in the perinuclear area of the cells and this expression was further enhanced in the perinuclear area of the chondrocytes after treatment with SDF-1α.Conclusion SDF-1α inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis and promotes chondrocyte migration and autophagy through activating the Akt signaling pathway.