Innovation of disposable messing gun in endodontics: clinical simulation test
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Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate a novel disposable delivery system, the MDent Gun, by assessing postgraduate student operator satisfaction and comparing the quality of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) apical plugs produced using the MDent Gun versus the OrthoMTA carrier in standardized open-apex resin tooth models.
Materials and Methods: Sixty three-dimensionally printed resin tooth models with standardized open apices were fabricated. Thirty postgraduate endodontic students performed orthograde placement of 4-mm ProRoot MTA apical plugs using both the MDent Gun and OrthoMTA carrier in a randomized crossover design. The MTA was standardized (0.5 g powder:0.18 mL distilled water) and placed under dental operating microscopy. Operator satisfaction was evaluated using a questionnaire assessing: (1) ergonomic design, (2) ease of material extrusion, (3) convenience of intracanal delivery, and (4) suitability for MTA apical plug procedures. Apical plug quality was assessed radiographically using a 4-grade scoring system. Intraobserver reliability was calculated using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for both operator satisfaction and apical plug quality (p < 0.05).
Results: Intraobserver reliability for radiographic scoring demonstrated excellent agreement (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.927, p < 0.001). Operators reported significantly higher ergonomic design satisfaction with the MDent Gun (median 4, IQR 4–5) compared to the OrthoMTA carrier (median 4, IQR 4–4) (p = 0.016). No statistically significant differences were observed for other satisfaction parameters. Radiographic void scores demonstrated no significant differences between the MDent Gun (median 2.5, IQR 1–3) and OrthoMTA carrier (median 2.0, IQR 2–3) groups.
Conclusions: Operators demonstrated significantly higher satisfaction with the ergonomic design of the MDent Gun compared to the OrthoMTA carrier, while MTA apical plug quality showed no significant differences between both delivery systems.
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