Effectiveness of a canal brush on removing smear layer: a scanning electron microscopic study.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a highly flexible endodontic brush made of polypropylene canal brush (CanalBrush; Coltène) on smear layer removal from the canal walls when used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Forty-four single-rooted mandibular incisors were prepared to apical size 30/0.06 and randomly divided into three groups A, B and C, where the final irrigation regimen was 10 mL 17% EDTA and 10 mL 2.5% NaOCl for group A, 10 mL EDTA, 5 mL NaOCl, CanalBrush for 20 s at 450 rpm and 5 mL NaOCl for group B, 10 mL NaOCl, CanalBrush and 10 mL NaOCl for group C. One medium-sized CanalBrush was used for each root canal and all brushes were examined under the optical microscope after application to evaluate bristle deformation. Afterwards, roots were split longitudinally and the presence of smear layer was evaluated under a scanning electron microscope. Used brushes invariably exhibited bristle deformation. Group C exhibited the highest means of smear layer in all thirds. Comparing the apical thirds in all groups, there was no statistical difference between groups A and B (3.64 ± 0.48 and 3.68 ± 0.62 respectively), while group C exhibited significantly higher scores (3.9 ± 0.28) than the other two groups. In conclusion, the CanalBrush proved unable to remove smear layer from the instrumented root canals, when used according to the manufacturers' instructions.
School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, University of Athens, Greece.
Eleni
E
Protogerou
School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, University of Athens, Greece.
Ioanna
I
Arvaniti
Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "N.S. Christeas", Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
Ioannis
I
Vlachos
School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, University of Athens, Greece.
Marouan Georgios
MG
Khabbaz
D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007180:Incisor; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016369:Smear Layer; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011126:Polypropylenes; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite