Clinical Performance, Degradation, and Failure Modes of Endodontic Dental Materials: Case Reports, Case Series, and Practice-Based Evidence

Endodontic materials and techniques continue to evolve, with new sealers, bioceramics and hydraulic cements, obturation components, and irrigation/disinfection adjuncts entering routine care at pace. While laboratory testing and controlled clinical studies remain essential, many clinically important questions about dental materials in vivo emerge first in real-world settings: What actually fails, how does it fail, why does it fail, and what can clinicians do next? Well-documented case reports, case series, and practice-based evidence can provide early signals of unexpected complications, illuminate plausible material-related mechanisms behind failure modes, and refine decision-making from diagnosis and treatment planning through to follow-up.This Research Topic aims to provide a clinically grounded forum for high-quality case-based and practice-based contributions focused on the real-world performance of endodontic dental materials and material-dependent protocols—including successes, complications, and negative outcomes. We welcome rigorous clinical documentation with clear diagnostic reasoning, a transparent rationale for material/protocol selection (including handling steps and relevant product details where feasible), and outcomes supported by appropriate imaging (including radiographs and/or CBCT where indicated), alongside clear reporting of limitations and confounders.A central goal of the collection is to bridge the gap between “what should work” under ideal conditions and “what does work” in everyday clinical practice—particularly where outcomes may relate to material properties, material–environment interactions, and technique sensitivity. Submissions should help readers identify clinically relevant failure patterns, recognize risk factors (patient-, tooth-, technique-, and material-related), and improve preventive strategies and retreatment planning.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Diagnosis and treatment planning factors linked to outcomes (e.g., anatomy complexity, resorption, cracks, perforations, missed canals, restorability, periodontal context) and how these factors influence endodontic material selection and performance• Clinical performance of endodontic sealers and obturation systems, including bioceramic/hydraulic and resin-based sealers; warm vertical techniques; carrier-based obturation; single-cone approaches; and retreatment implications related to removability, dissolution, and re-intervention• Irrigation and disinfection protocols and their clinical sequelae (e.g., NaOCl accidents, extrusion events, chemical interactions/precipitation, activation strategies, medicaments), including reports that clarify material compatibility or suspected adverse material–chemical interactions• Material-related complications and adverse events, such as postoperative pain patterns, swelling, extrusion-associated sequelae, discoloration, persistent exudation, hypersensitivity reactions, or suspected cytotoxic effects presented in clinical context (with careful attribution and discussion of alternative explanations)• Failure modes and retreatment strategies, including recurrence of apical periodontitis, procedural errors, separated instruments, perforation repair materials, and outcome trajectories over time—especially where the report provides a plausible link to material behavior (e.g., interfacial breakdown, washout/solubility, handling sensitivity, retreatment barriers)• Imaging-supported follow-up, including standardized radiographic assessments, CBCT-supported healing/complication documentation, and practical guidance on interpretation in complex cases where materials (e.g., radiopacity, extrusion, repair cements) affect imaging appearance• Practice-based evidence (e.g., retrospective chart reviews, practice-based research network data, registry-style datasets) evaluating outcomes, complications, and predictors tied to specific endodontic materials or material-dependent protocols, with transparent case definitions and follow-up windows Topic editors: Konstantinos Ioannidis, Marina Angélica Marciano Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78456/clinical-performance-degradation-and-failure-modes-of-endodontic-dental-materials-case-reports-case-series-and-practice-based-evidence