title: Efficacy of 3 different irrigation systems on removal of calcium hydroxide from the root canal: a scanning electron microscopic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different irrigation systems on removing calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2) from the root canal by using a scanning electron microscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty extracted single-rooted teeth were divided randomly into 4 groups. Canal instrumentation was done, and the teeth were filled with Ca(OH)2 paste. One week later, 4 techniques were used for Ca(OH)2 removal. In the first group, the canals were cleaned with a master apical file. The second, third, and fourth groups were irrigated using the EndoVac (Discus Dental, Culver City, CA), EndoActivator (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK), and ProUltra (Dentsply Tulsa, Tulsa, OK) systems, respectively. All the groups were irrigated with 3 mL (18%) EDTA and 3 mL (1%) NaOCl for 1 minute. The canal walls were viewed, and the remaining amount of Ca(OH)2 was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope. A scoring system was used to assess the amount of residue Ca(OH)2 on each third of the canal. The obtained data for comparisons between the conventional irrigation needle and each device were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To compare the 4 devices, the results were statistically analyzed using the analysis of variance test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the investigated techniques removed the Ca(OH)2 dressing completely. However, the EndoActivator System showed better results in removing Ca(OH)2 in each third of the root canals in comparison with the other techniques.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alturaiki
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hebah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lamphon
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hadeel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edrees
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. Electronic address: michael.ahlquist@ki.se.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlquist
mesh_terms: D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000737:chemistry*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000737:chemistry; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000379:methods; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide
keywords: Calcium hydroxide; EndoActivator System; EndoVac; ProUltra; irrigation