title: Efficacy of Different Techniques for Removing Debris from Endodontic Files Prior to Sterilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental instruments, like endodontic files, are hardly disinfected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mechanical, chemical, and ultrasonic (in combinations or separately) techniques for removing debris from files, prior to sterilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally, 90 new endodontic files with size of 15, 25, and 40 (30 files of each one) were sterilized and one files of each one kept as negative control (NC) group. The rest of files (29 files of each size) were divided into five groups after endodontic therapies and prior to autoclaving: (Positive control [PC]: Without interventions, A: Cleaned with scouring sponge soaked in chlorhexidine 0.2%, B: Stored in Micro 10 enzyme, C: Subjected to Micro 10 enzyme in both conventional and ultrasonic way for 15 min, D: Decontaminated by Micro 10 enzyme with ultrasonic). Finally, the samples were observed under a metallographic microscope, and the data were analyzed by Tuckey, paired t-test, two-way ANOVA tests using SPSS software version 15 at a significant level of 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed in heads of the files among groups C and PC (P = 0.02), and high amount of debris were seen in the shafts of groups A and D (P < 0.001). The amount of remaining debris were significant in the shafts of sizes 15 (P < 0.001) and 25 (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using Micro 10 in both ultrasonic and conventional methods were acceptable for removing debris from the files. Furthermore, higher amounts of debris were found in the shafts and heads of files with lower sizes (15 and 25).
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Dental Implant Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nosouhian
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Dental Implant Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bajoghli
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Dental Implant Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabouhi
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Endodontic, Private Practice, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barati
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Student, Dental Students Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.affiliation: Dentist, Torabinejad Dental Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifipour
keywords: Contamination; debris; endodontic files; ultrasonic