title: Efficacy of laser-driven irrigation versus ultrasonic in removing an airlock from the apical third of a narrow root canal.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that air entrapment occurs in the apical third of a root canal during irrigation. A second objective was to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference between laser-driven irrigation (an erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet laser) and passive ultrasonic irrigation in removing an airlock from the apical third. One hundred twenty extracted human teeth with single narrow root canals were randomised into two experimental groups (n = 40) and two control groups (n = 20). The specimens were shaped using hand instruments up to a size 30/0.02 file. The teeth were irrigated with a mixture of saline, radiopaque contrast and ink in solution. In the passive ultrasonic irrigation group, the irrigant was activated with an ultrasonic device for 60 s. In the laser group, the irrigant was activated with a laser for 60 s. It was concluded that if the insertion of irrigation needle is shorter than the working length, air entrapment may develop in the apical third, but the use of laser-driven irrigation is completely effective in removing it.
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Center, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Harry Huiz
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gutknecht
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000379:methods; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: air entrapment; cavitation; contrast; laser-driven irrigation; ultrasonic