The pulpo-dentine complex is normally protected from exogenous substances in the oral cavity by the overlying enamel or cementum. Dental caries, dental trauma, enamel/dentine cracks, and restorative procedures commonly breach the integrity of enamel or cementum and may allow infection of the pulpo-dentine complex to occur, possibly leading to pulp and periapical inflammatory disease. Infection of the intraradicular space is a complex and dynamic process involving interactions between host and microbial factors. An understanding of these factors has led to the development of endodontic techniques that offer predictable success.
Calcium hydroxide pastes have been used in endodontics since 1947. Most current calcium hydroxide endodontic pastes use water as the vehicle, which limits the dissolution of calcium hydroxide that can be achieved and, thereby, the maximum pH that can be achieved within the root canal system. Using polyethylene glycol as a solvent, rather than water, can achieve an increase in hydroxyl ions release compared to water or saline. By adopting non-aqueous solvents such as the polyethylene glycols (PEG), greater dissolution and faster hydroxyl ion release can be achieved, leading to enhanced antimicrobial actions, and other improvements in performance and biocompatibility.
Since the end of the Cold War, the study of European defence has been dominated by a ‘Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)-centric’ approach, while largely neglecting the comparative analysis ...