SEM evaluation of the root canal walls after treatment with Tetraclean.
OBJECTIVE
In this ex vivo study, the surface cleanliness of root canal walls after shaping with Ni-Ti instruments and irrigating with different endodontic solutions was evaluated by SEM.


METHODS
50 single-rooted teeth were divided into 5 groups. All root canals were shaped with Revo-S™ (MICRO-MEGA®, Besancon, France) rotary Ni-Ti instruments and irrigated with NaOCl, varying the final rinse: NaOCl, Tetraclean, 17% EDTA, Cloreximid, Tetraclean liquid not mixed with powder. Specimens were fractured longitudinally and prepared for SEM analysis in order to evaluate the presence/absence of smear layer and the presence/absence of open tubules at the coronal, middle, and apical third of each canal, using a 3-step scale for scores. Numeric data were analyzed using Kruskall-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test and significance was predetermined at p<0.05.


RESULTS
This study showed significant differences between the various groups. The 5.25% NaOCl + Tetraclean and 5.25% NaOCl + 17% E.D.T.A. groups had significantly lower scores than other groups (p<0.001), with no significant difference between them.


CONCLUSIONS
Final rinse with Tetraclean is effective in removing the smear layer, leaving a high number of opened dentin tubules.
Department of Endodontics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. c.poggio@unipv.it
Claudio
C
Poggio
Alberto
A
Dagna
Marco
M
Chiesa
Stefano
S
Bianchi
Carla Renata
CR
Arciola
Livia
L
Visai
Luciano
L
Giardino
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009532:Nickel; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D014025:Titanium
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; C547319:Cloreximid; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C555783:Tetraclean; C040654:titanium nickelide; D019343:Citric Acid; D009532:Nickel; D004492:Edetic Acid; D014025:Titanium; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D004318:Doxycycline; D002710:Chlorhexidine