Comparison of irrigant activation devices and conventional needle irrigation on smear layer and debris removal in curved canals. (Smear layer removal from irrigant activation using SEM)

Effectiveness of a new endodontic irrigation system for removing smear layer and dissolving simulated organic matter

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to evaluate the potential for the dissolution of organic tissue in areas of simulated complexity and cleaning of root canal walls of the new iVac® endodontic irrigation system.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty mandibular premolars were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy before and after biomechanical preparation. Then, they were distributed according to the final irrigation protocol into groups with conventional irrigation, ultrasonic agitation with metallic insert (UA), and iVac® system, and new photomicrographs were obtained. For tissue dissolution analysis, glass capillaries filled with catgut were attached to the cervical and apical thirds of twenty-one prototyped upper incisors. They were weighed before and after the previously mentioned irrigation protocols. The data were statistically compared with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

The final irrigation provided greater cleaning of the root canal walls in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of the root canals (P < 0.05), with no statistically significant difference between UA and iVac®, regardless of the analyzed thirds. Both ultrasonic irrigation protocols dissolved a significantly greater volume than the conventional irrigation protocol (P < 0.05), with no difference between the two protocols (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The iVac® system showed root canal wall cleaning and tissue dissolution similar to UA with a metallic insert, and both were superior to conventional irrigation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The new irrigation system iVac is more effective than conventional irrigation and has similar root canal wall cleaning and tissue dissolution to UA.

Enhancing debris removal in curved canals: a comparative evaluation of XP-endo Finisher and Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to compare the efficacy of XP-endo Finisher and Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation (PUI) in removing hard tissue debris from curved canals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-four mandibular molars with Vertucci's type II mesial canals were scanned in microcomputed tomography before and after preparation with HyFlex EDM, and accumulated hard tissue debris was quantified. Subsequently, the teeth were randomly divided into two groups according to the supplementary procedure: PUI with the Ultra-X insert or XP-endo Finisher. After the intervention, the specimens underwent another scanning. Two separate analyses were conducted, one for the total canal and another for the isthmus area. Unpaired and paired T-tests were used for inter- and intergroup comparisons, with a significance level set at 5%.

RESULTS

Both supplementary methods reduced the amount of debris compared to the initial volume. Remarkably, the XP-endo Finisher achieved a significantly higher percentage of debris removal (71% for the total canal and 74% for the isthmus areas) compared to PUI (41% for the total canal and 52% for the isthmus area) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both supplementary approaches reduced the amount of hard tissue debris from canal preparation, still XP-endo Finisher showed a higher reduction compared to PUI (p < 0.05).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

None of the supplementary methods rendered canals completely free of hard tissue debris. However, the supplementary approach with XP-endo Finisher resulted in lower levels of hard tissue debris than PUI in curved canals with isthmuses.

Debridement Ability of TruNatomy, S-One Plus, and Other Single File Systems

BACKGROUND: Rotary nickel titanium instrument are an essential part of endodontic treatment, it is important to compare the root canal cleaning ability of these instruments. AIM: This study aimed to compare the amount of smear and debris layer remained following the use of four rotary instruments with an irrigant solution: TruNatomy (TRN), Protaper Next (PTN), S-One Plus and Wave One Gold (WOG). METHODS: A total of 80 extracted mandibular premolars were used and decoronated to the cemento-enamel junction. The roots were randomly divided into four groups of 20 specimens each. The roots were instrumented according to the manufacturer’s instructions of each file, the root canals were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), Ethylene-diaminete-traacetic acid (EDTA) and Normal saline with each file use, two grooves were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces by disc to facilitate vertical splitting with a chisel. The presence of the smear layer and the debris layer were evaluated under Scanning Electron Microscope. RESULTS: Trunatomy remove the smear layer substantially better than PTN and S-one Plus. Wave one gold significantly removes smear layer better PTN. The amount of debris remained in TruNatomy group was significantly lower than other groups, all experimental files significantly removes the smear layer and debris layer better in the middle and coronal thirds compared to apical third. CONCLUSION: TruNatomy showed better cleaning capacity than all other experimental groups and all experimental groups demonstrated better cleanliness at the coronal and middle third of the roots.