Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of irrigation using the EndoVac to endodontic needle delivery.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this investigation was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of root canal irrigation with the EndoVac (Discus Dental, Culver City, CA) to endodontic needle irrigation in the apical 5 mm of root canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis.


METHODS
Bilaterally matched, extracted human teeth were sterilized and inoculated with E. faecalis. Specimens in the EndoVac group were irrigated using the EndoVac system, whereas those in the needle group were irrigated with a 30-G side-vented needle. After chemomechanical preparation, the apical 5 mm of the roots were removed, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and pulverized to expose E. faecalis in dentinal tubules or other morphologic irregularities. The number of colony forming units (cfus) of E. faecalis per mg dentin was determined.


RESULTS
The EndoVac Group had a mean of 31.6 cfu/mg, whereas the needle group had a mean of 157 cfu/mg. This represents a bacterial reduction of 99.7% in group A and 98.8% in group B when compared with positive controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there were fewer cfu/mg when using the EndoVac, there was not a statistically significant difference between the EndoVac and needle groups.
Miller
Todd A
TA
Baumgartner
J Craig
JC
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009339:Needles; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016369:Smear Layer; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation*
D012388:Root Canal Irrigants