title: [Effects of different techniques on removal of vapor lock in the apical region of curved canals: a cone-beam computed tomography study].
abstract: To compare the effect of four different techniques on removal of vapor lock in the apical region of curved root canals.
  
  
  
  Forty simulated resin root canals with 45° curvature were prepared using WaveOne Primary, then the apical foramen were sealed with soft wax. The teeth were divided randomly into 4 groups thereafter (n=10). Contract solution was injected into the canals using a 30 G side-vented needle and scanned with cone-beam CT (CBCT) to identify the volume of the vapor lock. Four different techniques including photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) laser-activated irrigation, gutta-percha cone technique, ultrasonic irrigation, and sonic irrigation were used to remove the vapor locks in the root canals. The residual volume of the vapor lock was identified again using CBCT scanning data. Accordingly, the reduction rates of the vapor lock were calculated. Furthermore, the initial and residual vapor lock length was calculated. The data were analyzed by using the One-way ANOVA analysis and Kruskal-Wallis H test at a significance level of P<0.05.
  
  
  
  There was no significant difference in the initial vapor lock volume (P>0.05). Residual volume of the vapor lock for PIPS laser-activated irrigation was 0 mm(3), and that for gutta-percha cone technique was (0.02±0.07) mm3, significantly lower than those of ultrasonic and sonic irrigation, the values being (0.20±0.09) mm(3) and (0.23±0.06) mm(3) (P<0.001), respectively. The reduction rates of the vapor lock of PIPS laser-activated irrigation and gutta-percha cone technique were 100.00% (100.00%, 100.00%) and 100.00% (77.66%, 100.00%), respectively, significantly higher than those of ultrasonic irrigation [70.37% (56.41%, 91.43%)] and sonic irrigation [63.54% (51.47%, 74.00%), P<0.001]. The length of the residual vapor lock for PIPS laser-activated irrigation was 0 mm, and that for gutta-percha cone technique was (0.15±0.47) mm, significantly lower than those of ultrasonic and sonic irrigation, values being (2.21±0.09) mm and (2.34±0.08) mm (P<0.001), respectively. The length of the residual vapor locks in the ultrasonic and sonic group remained approximately the same as the distance between the working tip and the apical foramen.
  
  
  
  PIPS laser activated irrigation and gutta-percha cone technique could remove the vapor lock from the apical region of curved canals effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: The Second Dental Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009339:Needles / Q000145:classification; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013016:Sound; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves
chemical_list: D006171:Gutta-Percha