title: Effect of three different irrigation solutions applied by passive ultrasonic irrigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the maximum depth and percentage of irrigant penetration into dentinal tubules by passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty extracted human teeth were instrumented and divided into three groups. According to final irrigation regimen, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (Group A, NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (Group B, CHX) and saline solution (Group C, control group) were applied with Irrisafe 20 tips (Acteon) and PUI. Irrigant was mixed with 0.1% rhodamine B. Sections at 2 mm, 5 mm, and 8 mm from the apex were examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The percentage and maximum depth of irrigant penetration were measured. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test were performed for overall comparison between groups at each level and for pairwise comparison, respectively. Within a group, Wilcoxon test was performed among different levels. p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all groups, highest penetration depth and percentage of penetration were observed at the 8 mm level. At 2 mm level, Groups A and B had significantly greater depths and percentages in penetration than Group C (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between Groups A and B. At 5 mm level, penetration depths and percentage of penetration was not significantly different among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NaOCl and CHX applied by PUI showed similar depth and percentage of penetration at all evaluated levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3942-2820
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llena
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forner
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cambralla
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lozano
keywords: Chlorhexidine; Confocal laser scanning microscope; Dentinal penetration; Passive ultrasonic irrigation; Sodium hypochlorite