Research and Publications
Dr. Prashant Verma and Dr. Ali Nosrat are on faculty at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Division of Endodontics. They practice together at our sister office in Virginia- Centreville Endodontics. They maintain an active research collaboration. Please click the links below to view our peer-reviewed publications.
Regenerative Endodontics: A Scientometric and Bibliometric Analysis
Shamszadeh S., Asgary S., Nosrat A.
Journal of Endodontics, 2019;45(3): 272-280
Scientometric analyses are done to determine the level of evidence, the quantity and quality of publications, and the major players (Authors, Journals, Countries) in a scientific field. Scientometric analyses are common in the field of medicine, but they are rare in the field of dentistry and endodontics. This scientometric analysis showed that the total number of publications in the field of regenerative endodontics has exponentially grown over the past decade, with an average growth rate of 40.4%. The overall ratio of articles with LOE 1 is still low. A total of 1820 authors in 53 countries contributed to the research in this field. Journal of Endodontics published the highest number of papers in this field. The United States was the lead country regarding the number of publications, citations, and international collaborations. Research groups around the globe are urged to focus their collaborative efforts on higher-quality research to address clinical needs.
Nosrat A., Kolahdouzan A., Khatibi A.H., Verma P., Jamshidi D., Nevins A.J., Torabinejad M.
Journal of Endodontics, 2019;45(2): 136-143
Histological examination of teeth after regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) shows that the type, quality, and quantity of tissues formed in the root canal space is not predictable. A new collagen-based scaffold, SynOss Putty, has shown promising clinical results when used in RET. However, there was no histological data on the newly formed tissues in human teeth. In this study, for the first time, we examined the clinical, radiographic, and histological outcomes of RET in human teeth using SynOss Putty as a scaffold. The results showed that SynOss Putty has a unique capacity in inducing the formation of new mineralized tissue in immature human teeth following RET. This new tissue solidifies with the dentinal walls, and therefore, can increase the fracture-resistant in immature teeth. This new mineralized tissue was different from the loose connective tissue formed following the use of blood clots as scaffold.
Antibacterial Efficacy and Discoloration Potential of Endodontic Topical Antibiotics
AlSaeed T., Nosrat A., Melo M.A, Wang P., Romberg E., Xu H., Fouad A.F.
Journal of Endodontics, 2018;44(7):1110-1114
Hazards of Improper Dispensary: Literature Review and Report of an Accidental Chloroform Injection
Verma P., Nosrat A., Tordik P.
Journal of Endodontics, 2018;44(6):1042-1047
Several clear, transparent solutions are used in endodontics. Inappropriate dispensing methods can lead to accidental injection or accidental irrigation. These accidents can cause permanent tissue damage including damage to bone, periodontium, nerves, and vasculature. This article reports on the catastrophic consequences of an accidental chloroform injection and presents a review of the published literature on accidental injections and accidental irrigations. Our goal is to disseminate information on toxicity and biocompatibility of materials/solutions used in endodontics and to train dental students and endodontic residents on the therapeutic management of patients when an accidental injection or accidental irrigation occurs.
Torabinejad M., Nosrat A., Verma P., Udochukwu O.
Journal of Endodontics, 2017;43(11):1806-1820
Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses provide us with the highest level of evidence. Regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) is the hottest topic of research in the field of endodontics. In this treatment, the clinician revitalizes the necrotic immature tooth using a specific disinfection protocol and a tissue engineering strategy. This research project aimed to determine the level of evidence for RET. It also aimed to compare the outcome of RET with the outcome of the existing standard procedure, MTA apical plug (MAP), for the treatment of immature teeth with pulp necrosis. The results showed that the level of evidence for MAP and RET was low. The pooled survival rates were 97.1% and 97.8%, for MAP and RET, respectively. The pooled success rates were 94.6% and 91.3% for MAP and RET, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding survival or success rates. More high-level clinical studies (i.e., randomized clinical trials) comparing the outcome of these two treatment modalities are needed.
Variations of palatal canal morphology in maxillary molars: a case series and literature review
Nosrat A., Verma P., Hicks M.L., Schneider S.C., Behnia A., Azim A.A.
Journal of Endodontics, 2017;43(11):1888-1896
Palatals canals in maxillary molars are considered easy-to-treat for endodontic clinicians because they are larger and less curved compared to other canals. However, root canal treatment in these canals can be challenging in case of anatomical variations. This case series showed that experienced endodontic clinicians can miss a bifurcated palatal canal if they are not aware of these anatomical variations. The review part of this paper shows that although the overall prevalence of anatomical variations in the palatal canal of maxillary molars is low (<2%), it can reach up to 33% in maxillary first molars and up to 14% in maxillary second molars in certain ethnic groups (i.e., Indians, Pakistanis, and Turkish).
Asgary S., Verma P., Nosrat A.
Iranian Endodontic Journal, 2017;12 (2): 261-265
Root canal treatments are highly successful procedures to save mature teeth diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis due to large caries. But these treatments are expensive and require a higher level of skills, specifically in molar teeth. Therefore, root canal treatment might not be a realistic option to save teeth for underserved people, people without dental insurance, or those who do not have access to highly skilled dentists. As a result, many restorable teeth are extracted every year. An alternative to root canal treatment will be a “pulpotomy” using biocompatible materials. The clinical studies on pulpotomy of mature teeth are limited. This article shows the successful outcome of pulpotomy done in two molars using a novel biomaterial, CEM cement. The 2-year follow-up is documented clinically and radiographically (2D and 3D). In conclusion, the option of pulpotomy with bioactive cement might be a real alternative to tooth extraction if a root canal is not feasible.
Effect of Residual Bacteria on the Outcome of Pulp Regeneration In Vivo.
Verma P, Nosrat A, Kim JR, Price JB, Wang P, Bair E, Xu HH, Fouad AF.
Journal of Dental Research. 2017; Jan 96(1):100-106
This project was funded by the American Association of Endodontists Foundation and published in the prestigious journal JDR, which consistently ranks #1 or #2 on the basis of impact factor among all dental journals. The purpose of the study was to determine, radiographically and histologically, the effect of residual infection on pulp regeneration procedures. It was an animal study using the ferret canine model. There were two groups- one with a novel autologous stem cell transplantation method, and the other with a traditional blood clot method for regenerative endodontics. The results of this study showed, for the first time, that residual bacteria have a critical negative effect on the outcome of regenerative endodontic procedures.
Asgary S, Nosrat A.
Journal of Endodontics. 2016; Aug 42(8):1291-4.
Treatment of class 4 invasive cervical resorption is a challenge. Almost all treatment approaches (surgical or non-surgical) have unfavorable outcomes due to either extensive damage to the periodontal tissues or the inability to stop the resorption. This article presents the successful management of a case of class 4 invasive cervical resorption using a novel noninvasive nonsurgical approach in a young female who was about to lose her front tooth. A bioactive cement, CEM cement, was used as root canal filling material to stop the resorption and induce healing in periodontal tissues.
Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Ferrets.
Homayounfar N, Verma P, Nosrat A, El Ayachi I, Yu Z, Romberg E, Huang GT, Fouad AF.
Journal of Endodontics. 2016; 42(3):418-24.
This project was funded by the American Association of Endodontist Foundation (AAEF). Ferret’s teeth are an appropriate model to study regenerative endodontic treatments and tissue engineering strategies for these treatments. The study aimed to examine the differentiation characteristics of ferret’s dental pulp stem cells for the first time. The results of this study showed that even though ferret dental pulp stem cells might mimic some characteristics of human dental pulp stem cells, they are different in some other aspects. These differences should be considered when running animal studies and interpreting the outcomes of those studies.
Nosrat A, Kolahdouzan A, Hosseini F, Mehrizi E, Verma P, Torabinejad M
Journal of Endodontics 2015; 41(10):1725-9
This study is a case report which documents the histological outcomes of regenerative endodontic treatments in non-infected human teeth for the first time. The experiment was done on teeth planned for extraction because of orthodontic treatments. This research points out the shortcomings of the current protocol published by the AAE. It also establishes an appropriate model to study the outcomes of tissue engineering strategies in human teeth. This study gave us new ideas about future studies. There are three ongoing projects designed based on this paper.
Nosrat A, Schneider SC
Journal of Endodontics. 2015;41(7):1167-71
Clinicians need to know about the internal anatomy of the teeth in order to do an efficient root canal treatment. Maxillary lateral incisors are considered as a single-rooted tooth with a single canal. This study documents the successful treatment of a maxillary lateral incisor with five canals. Using CBCT imaging, we built a 3D image of the tooth and designed a specific approach to treat all canals in two sessions. This study not only highlights the anatomical variations in human teeth but also shows how 3D imaging can be used in Endodontics to strategize the treatment approach.
Interfacial characteristics of Biodentine and MTA with dentine in simulated body fluid.
Kim JR, Nosrat A, Fouad AF
Journal of Dentistry. 2015;43(2):241-7
This study was funded by the Sherril Ann Siegel Memorial Endodontic Research Award from the University of Maryland Baltimore. Calcium silicate-based cement-like MTA is being widely used in Dentistry. They are bioactive and produce Hydroxyapatite in contact with moisture. This is a very important characteristic that makes them biocompatible and gives several other features like sealing ability, hard tissue induction potential, etc. Biodentine is a relatively new material that has several clinical advantages compared to old cement-like MTA. However, the data regarding how the material will work in our bodies is limited. This study documents the bioactivity of Biodentine in an environment similar to the human body for the first time. The results showed that although Biodentin sets much faster than MTA its bioactivity is not as great as MTA and this may cause issues in clinical situations over time. Future studies should focus on the long-term outcome of these new bioactive cement.
Middle Mesial Canals in Mandibular Molars: Incidence and Related Factors.
Nosrat A, Deschenes RJ, Tordik PA, Hicks ML, Fouad AF.
Journal of Endodontics. 2015, 41(1):28-32
One of the major reasons for the failure of a root canal treatment is missed canals. When the clinician does not have enough knowledge about the internal anatomy of the tooth then they may miss some details which can cause the failure of the treatment. Mandibular molar teeth are the most frequently extracted teeth following root canal treatment. There is a rare canal in these teeth called the “middle mesial canal” which most of the time is overlooked during the treatment. This study documents the incidence of this particular canal in different age groups and different ethnicities. The very most important finding of this study is that the prevalence of this canal is significantly higher in younger patients (< 20 years old). Clinicians are encouraged to look for this canal when treating young patients. This paper made the cover of the Journal of Endodontics issue of January 2015.
Healing after regenerative procedures with and without pulpal infection.
Fouad AF, Verma P.
J Endod. 2014 Apr;40(4 Suppl):S58-64.
This is a review paper published as proceedings to the “Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group Meeting” held in March 2013 in San Francisco.
This paper highlights the biological aspects of regenerative endodontic treatments with a specific focus on the differences between infected and non-infected root canal spaces. As shown in other studies, the residual infection has a detrimental effect on the outcome of regenerative treatments. This paper highlights the gaps between the research done on non-infected models and the real clinical situations where the clinicians are dealing with difficult-to-remove infections in immature teeth. Pulp regeneration in previously infected teeth is still a challenge. More clinical and animal studies are needed to reach an ideal treatment protocol in this field.
Efficacy of Er,Cr: YSGG Laser in Removing Smear Layer and Debris with Two Different Output Powers.
Bolhari B, Ehsani S, Etemadi A, Shafaq M, Nosrat A
Photomed Laser Surg. 2014 Oct;32(10):527-32
New technologies have always been the subject of research in the field of endodontics. Laser radiation has several potential applications in dentistry. Laser irradiation can potentially be used as an aid to root canal irrigation to enhance the quality of debridement. In this research, we aimed to evaluate the cleaning effect of Laser irradiation on dentinal walls of the root canal space as a potential replacement for irrigation solutions. The outcomes of this project proved that Laser irradiation can potentially be a replacement for our traditional root canal irrigation in specific output powers. It also shows that if the Laser is used with high power or for a long time (more than a few seconds) it can cause irreversible damages to the dentinal walls of the root canal space.
Asgary S, Eghbal MJ, Mehrdad L, Kheirieh S, Nosrat A
Restor Dent Endod. 2014 May;39(2):137-42
Treatment of root resorptions is a challenge in endodontics. It takes a significant amount of knowledge and effort to determine the etiology, extension, and a successful treatment plan. In some cases, a non-surgical approach would be enough to stop the resorption, in other cases a surgical approach or a combination of both approaches is needed. This report documents a rare case of internal resorption where the initial treatment using MTA (a standard material used in these cases) was failed. The tooth was eventually saved by doing surgery using a novel bioactive cement called CEM.
Concurrent intentional replantation of maxillary molars using a novel root-end filling
Asgary S, Nosrat A
Gen Dent. 2014 May-Jun;62(3):30-3
When a root canal treatment fails and retreatment or a root-end surgery are not feasible one treatment option would be intentional replantation. In this procedure, we extract the tooth, fix the issues with the root canal treatment and replant the tooth and stabilize it for a short period of time. This procedure is a last resort to save the tooth. In this paper, we reported concurrent intentional replantation of two maxillary molars with failed root canal treatment. The patient did not want to go through a retreatment or a root-end surgery. There are two novel aspects related to this case: doing this procedure for two molars at the same time and using a novel bioactive cement called CEM as the root-end filling material. The successful outcome of this was documented during a two-year follow-up period.
Tissue engineering considerations in dental pulp regeneration
Nosrat A, Kim JR, Verma P, Chand P
Iranian Endodontic Journal 2014; 9: 30-39
Pulp regeneration is a hot topic for research in Endodontics. There are several different tissue engineering approaches being tested in laboratories, animals, or humans. This paper is an invited review that summarizes the outcome of research in this field done till the end of 2013.
Nosrat A, Peimani A, Asgary S
Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics 201; 38: 227-33
In some specific clinical situations, the endodontist might be able to save the vitality of the tooth by doing a vital pulp therapy instead of root canal treatment. This type of treatment is mainly done for a young patient whose teeth are immature and the roots are still developing. The type of materials used in vital pulp therapy plays a crucial role in the outcome of treatment. Plus, histological studies on human teeth regarding the outcome of vital pulp therapies are very rare. In this project, we evaluated the histological outcome of vital pulp therapy in human teeth with a novel endodontic biomaterial called CEM cement. We used wisdom teeth scheduled for extraction. The results of the study showed favorable results for this new biomaterial compared to the traditional material, MTA.
The effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on the push-out bond strength of RealSeal SE sealer
Ehsani S, Bolhari B, Etemadi A, Ghorbanzadeh A, Sabet Y, Nosrat A
Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2013; 31: 578-85
Laser irradiation can potentially be used as an aid to root canal irrigation to enhance the quality of debridement. One way to assess this effect is to look at the quality of root canal filling after being treated by Laser. In this research project, we examined the push-out bond strength of a specific root canal filling material following Laser treatment. The results confirmed that Laser irradiation can be a valuable addition to root canal irrigation.
Is pulp regeneration necessary for root maturation?
Nosrat A, Li K, Vir K, Hicks M, Fouad A
Journal of Endodontics 2013; 39: 1291-5
This paper is a case report which proves a very important concept related to regenerative endodontic treatments. There are so many challenges to regenerating the pulp tissue in a previously infected root canal space. This paper documents a case where pulp regeneration failed, and the root canal space was empty upon reentry. This paper shows how an ideal infection control for pulp regeneration can become challenging in an immature tooth. It also shows that despite the failure of pulp regeneration, root maturation was obtained.
Oloomi K, Saberi E, Mokhtari H, Mokhtari Znouzi HR, Nekoofar MH, Nosrat A, Dummer P
Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics 2013, 38(3):128-33
Blood contamination can cause problems with specific materials in dentistry. Some dental materials are compatible with moisture and are designed to be used where blood contamination is a possibility. Generally, all calcium silicate cement is claimed to be moisture compatible. However, research studies show that blood contamination can affect some of their physical properties. In this project, we evaluated the compressive strength of MTA following blood contamination. The results showed that blood contamination indeed reduced the compressive strength of MTA. The clinicians were recommended to avoid blood contamination while using MTA.
Extensive idiopathic external root resorption in first maxillary molar: a case report
Bolhari B, Meraji N, Nosrat A
Iranian Endodontic Journal 2013; 8(2): 72-4
Root resorptions are among the least understood dental diseases. The etiology of some of the resorptions is well known. But some others are idiopathic, meaning that the etiology is unknown. Idiopathic root resorptions represent a challenge to the dentist. Since the cause is unknown there is no specific treatment to address the cause and stop the resorption. All we can do as a researcher is to evaluate the dental and medical history of the patient in detail and try to find a correlation between a specific dental or medical status and the root resorption. When a specific dental procedure or medical status is found repeatedly in the history of patients with root resorption then we can make a correlation. This paper represents a case of extensive idiopathic root resorption evaluated using 3D imaging and radiographs. A detailed dental and medical history of the patient was represented and examined.
Nosrat A, Seifi A, Asgary S
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013, 23(1): 56-63
Research studies are classified based on the level of evidence they represent. Randomized clinical trials are the highest level of evidence in clinical research. Endodontic treatment in immature teeth of young patients (7-10 years old) with large caries is a challenge. The endodontist is supposed to save the vitality of the tooth instead of doing root canal treatment by doing a “vital pulp therapy”. Vital pulp therapy can be done in the form of full pulpotomy where the most inflamed part of the pulp will be removed and the rest of it will be covered with a bioactive material to allow the roots to continue developing. This study compared the results of pulpotomy using a traditional material, MTA, compared to a novel material, CEM cement. This was the first clinical trial published in this field and the paper has been highly cited all around the world.
Pulp regeneration in previously infected root canal space
Fouad A, Nosrat A
Endodontic Topics, 2013; 28:24-37
This paper is an invited review. Endodontic Topic is a yearly publication of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and it only publishes invited reviews. Pulp regeneration in previously infected root canals is a serious challenge. Complete disinfection of the root canal space affects the biological outcome of the regenerative procedures. On the other hand, leaving bacteria behind in the root canal space can cause the failure of the treatment. This paper reviews all these issues to make a clear picture of this challenge. It also makes recommendations for future research in this field.
Nosrat A, Homayounfar N, Oloomi K
Journal of Endodontics, 2012; 38(10): 1428-34.
As regenerative endodontic treatments become more popular among clinicians, they face more adverse effects and unfavorable outcomes. These situations need to be brought to the attention of the clinicians and they have to inform the patient when planning for such treatments. This paper is a review paper that also reports a case with an unfavorable outcome. The review part documents all technical issues with this new treatment gives clinical recommendations on how to avoid the adverse effects and also gives recommendations for future research. This paper has been cited frequently by other researchers in the field.
Unintentional extrusion of mineral trioxide aggregate: a report of three cases
Nosrat A, Nekoofar M, Bolhari B, Dummer P
International Endodontic Journal 2012, 45(12):1165-76.
MTA is a biocompatible material being used in dentistry for close to two decades. Numerous animal and lab studies have shown its biocompatibility. MTA can be used as root canal filling material. Due to its biocompatibility, there is a misconception that this material can be extruded beyond the apex with no consequences. Our clinical experience showed that this is true in most cases but not in all. In this paper, we reported three cases with extrusion of MTA. One case turned out to be successful over time, and the other two failed and required further treatment. As a conclusion, we recommended the clinicians limit the MTA root canal fillings to the canal boundaries and be cautious about the overextensions of the material.
Periapical healing after direct pulp capping with calcium-enriched mixture cement: a case report.
Asgary S, Nosrat A, Homayounfar N
Operative Dentistry 2012; 37(6): 571-5
The healing potential of the pulp tissue is not very well understood. While patients at different ages can represent the same symptoms when they have pulpal diseases the treatment can differ based on their age. Direct pulp capping is a vital pulp therapy suggested for deep cavities when the patient has no symptoms. Direct pulp capping on symptomatic patients is not recommended due to the high chance of failure. We believe that patient’s age plays a crucial role in the outcome of these treatments. This paper reports a successful direct pulp capping done in a symptomatic patient. We used a novel bioactive cement called CEM cement for the treatment.
Calcium-enriched mixture cement as an artificial apical barrier: a case series.
Nosrat A, Asgary S, Eghbal M, Ghoddusi J, Bayat-Movahed S
Journal of Conservative Dentistry 2011, 14(4): 427-31
This paper is a case series where a novel bioactive cement (CEM cement) was used as a root canal filling material in immature teeth with open apices. For decades, root canal filling of these teeth was a challenge for dentists and endodontists until MTA was introduced to dentistry. Although MTA has been successfully used for several years it is a difficult-to-use material and has some other issues like discoloration potential. CEM cement is easier to use and does not discolor teeth. We followed up on all these cases until the periapical lesions healed completely in all of them.
Nosrat A, Seifi A, Asgary S
Journal of Endodontics 2011; 37(4): 562-7
After regenerative endodontic treatments were introduced researchers and clinicians tried different techniques and modifications in order to improve the outcome. All the reported cases till 2011 were single-rooted teeth with a single canal (anterior teeth and some premolars). In this paper, we successfully revitalized two infected immature molar teeth for the first time by making minor changes in the treatment techniques. This paper has been highly cited by researchers and is one of the references for the Regenerative Endodontic Treatment protocol published by the American Association of Endodontists.
Asgary S, Nosrat A, Seifi A
Journal of Endodontics 2011; 37(3):411-3
One of the serious consequences of trauma to the teeth is inflammatory root resorption. If left untreated, this type of resorption can destroy the entire root structure within a few weeks and make the tooth mobile and hopeless. This resorption is most of the time asymptomatic and can only be diagnosed by taking radiographs. The routine protocol requires the clinicians to do a long-term disinfection process using calcium hydroxide paste. The patient needs to be very cooperative and attend multiple sessions of treatment. This case report documents treatment of a case of severe inflammatory root resorption due to a traumatic injury. The patient was referred to us because of extensive root resorption and mobility. The novel aspect of the treatment we rendered is that we reduced the period of calcium hydroxide treatment and filled the canal with a new bioactive cement called CEM cement. Forty months follow-up of the case documented the favorable results for the treatment.
Apexogenesis of a symptomatic molar with a calcium-enriched mixture.
Nosrat A, Asgary S
International Endodontic Journal 2010; 43(10): 940-4
Vital pulp therapies are regularly done in asymptomatic immature teeth with deep caries. Since the healing potential of the pulp tissue is not very well understood, clinicians are encouraged to not perform vital pulp therapies in symptomatic teeth with deep caries. On the other hand, if successful, vital pulp therapy will have significant benefits for young patients. It allows further root development and can increase the longevity of the tooth. This case report describes a symptomatic permanent immature tooth with deep caries treated for the first time with CEM cement is a bioactive material. The long-term follow-up of the case shows the success of the treatment and documents root development despite the patient’s symptoms at the beginning.
Apexogenesis treatment with a new endodontic cement: a case report.
Nosrat A, Asgary S
Journal of Endodontics 2010; 36(5): 912-14
Traumatic injuries to the teeth are common among kids and young adults. These injuries can have severe consequences for the vitality of the tooth. Most of these teeth are immature and have not been developed fully and these injuries can arrest their root development. If the pulp tissue becomes exposed to the oral cavity due to a traumatic fracture clinician should clean and seal the exposed tissue as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours. This paper reports a case of traumatic fracture in an immature front tooth undergone vital pulp therapy using a novel cement, CEM cement. Another novel aspect in the treatment of this case was the time spent between trauma and the treatment which was 4 weeks. The successful outcome of this case showed that the healing potential of the pulp tissue might be beyond what we know.
