title: In vitro cleaning ability of root canal irrigants with and without endosonics.
abstract: A variety of methods have been used to evaluate the cleanliness of root canals after endodontic preparation and irrigation. Few irrigation agents other than sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) have been tested in conjunction with endosonics. The purpose of this study was to examine the cleaning ability of water, NaOCl, Hibiscrub and a biological washing liquid when used as intracanal irrigants, with and without endosonics. Two methods of evaluation were employed to assess the root canal cleanliness after endodontic preparation. A total of 56 teeth, divided into eight groups, were prepared manually using the step-down technique. Each irrigating agent was used in two experimental groups, with and without endosonics. Two additional teeth which received neither instrumentation nor irrigation served as the controls. The teeth were split longitudinally and the state of cleanliness of the root canal was assessed by scoring the amount of stained organic debris and smear layer. It was demonstrated that the results of debris and smear layer scoring were significantly influenced by the type of irrigant and whether endosonics had been used. All agents exhibited similar cleaning ability when introduced manually. With endosonics, NaOCl yielded significantly less stainable debris (P < 0.05) than the other groups which showed no significant difference. The ability to remove the smear layer was enhanced, but at some distance short of the working length, by endosonics for all irrigants tested. None of the solutions tested was able to produce a canal wall that was free of smear layer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Institute of Dental Surgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids; D015588:Observer Variation; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D011122:Polyphosphates; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D008055:Lipids; C086609:Persil; D011122:Polyphosphates; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine