title: A comparison of techniques for cleaning endodontic files after usage: a quantitative scanning electron microscopic study.
abstract: One-hundred ten new endodontic files were used to prepare canals and were then cleaned using three different techniques: (a) gauze soaked with alcohol, (b) sponge soaked with alcohol, and (c) ultrasonic bath. The cleaning ability of each of these techniques immediately after use and after 1 h of delay were compared. Identical areas on each file were examined by using a custom-made jig. Morphometric analysis of debris was carried out using a Bioquant image analysis system. Sponge/alcohol was the worst cleaning method; this was significantly different from the other two techniques. The gauze/alcohol and ultrasonic bath were similar. The 1-h delay before instrument cleaning did not affect the ability of any of the techniques tested. None of the methods tested were able to totally clean the files.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ferreira Murgel
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rittman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pecora
mesh_terms: D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D000431:Ethanol; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol