title: Cleaning the apical third of curved canals after different irrigation protocols.
abstract: This study evaluated the protocols of sonic and vacuum irrigation regarding the capacity of debris removal from root canal systems. Canal preparations were carried out on 30 mandibular first molars using the ProTaper Universal System. Teeth were divided into two experimental groups (n=15): Group 1: sonic irrigation and Group 2: vacuum irrigation protocol. Subsequently, the mesial roots were sectioned and observed by stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Three independent examiners evaluated images of the apical thirds according to the following scores: 1= small presence of debris, 2= moderate presence of debris, and 3= dense presence of debris. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (α=0.05). Comparison among the groups revealed that at the apical third, the root halves of Group 1 had significantly less surface debris (p=0.002) than those of Group 2. However, at 2 mm from the working length, Group 2's specimens showed less remaining debris in approximately 75% of the analyzed root canals. At the whole apical third, the sonic irrigation protocol removed significantly more debris than the vacuum protocol. However, in the region at 2 mm from the working length, the second irrigation method demonstrated a better performance.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika Sales Joviano
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Isabella Faria da Cunha
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Rodrigo Keigo Lopes
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Vicente Tadeu Lopes
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.forename: Maria Guiomar de Azevedo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bahia
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013010:Sonication / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite