title: Comparison of efficacy of pulverization and sterile paper point techniques for sampling root canals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the pulverization and sterile paper point techniques for sampling root canals using 5.25% NaOCl/17% EDTA and 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD (Dentsply, Tulsa, OK) as irrigation regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-canal extracted human teeth were decoronated and infected with Enterococcus faecalis. Roots were randomly assigned to 2 irrigation regimens: group A with 5.25% NaOCl/17% EDTA (n = 30) and group B with 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD (n = 30). After chemomechanical debridement, bacterial samplings were taken using sterile paper points and pulverized powder of the apical 5 mm root ends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sterile paper point technique did not show growth in any samples. The pulverization technique showed growth in 24 of the 60 samples. The Fisher exact test showed significant differences between sampling techniques (P < .001). The sterile paper point technique showed no difference between irrigation regimens. However, 17 of the 30 roots in group A and 7 of the 30 roots in group B resulted in growth as detected by pulverization technique. Data showed a significant difference between irrigation regimens (P = .03) in pulverization technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pulverization technique was more efficacious in detecting viable bacteria. Furthermore, this technique showed that 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD regimen was more effective in disinfecting root canals.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endodontics and Pediatric Dentristy, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
authors.forename: Kenny T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torabinejad
authors.forename: Shahrokh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shabahang
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Retamozo
authors.forename: Raydolfo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Aprecio
authors.forename: Jung-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001047:Apicoectomy / Q000379:methods; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D010209:Paper; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: C475043:MTAD (intracanal irrigant); D011136:Polysorbates; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D019343:Citric Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: EDTA; MTAD; NaOCl; paper points; pulverization; sampling