Elsevier

Journal of Endodontics

Volume 38, Issue 4, April 2012, Pages 445-448
Journal of Endodontics

Clinical Research
In Vivo Efficacy of Three Different Endodontic Irrigation Systems for Irrigant Delivery to Working Length of Mesial Canals of Mandibular Molars

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2011.12.007Get rights and content

Abstract

Introduction

Many in vitro studies have debated over the ability of different irrigant delivery and/or agitation systems to reach the apical third of curved root canals; however, little is known about irrigant penetration in vivo. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the conventional endodontic irrigation needle, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and a negative pressure system for irrigant delivery to working length (WL) of mesial canals of mandibular molars.

Methods

Thirty mesial canals of 30 vital mandibular first or second molars were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n = 10): (1) Monoject syringe with 27-gauge needle; (2) PUI with IrriSafe tip; and (3) EndoVac system. All canals were treated following the same preparation protocol to size 35/0.04 by using 5.25% NaOCl as irrigant during preparation procedure. Before obturation, canals were irrigated with 1 mL of a radiopaque solution by using the assigned irrigation system, and a digital radiograph was taken by using a parallel technique. With the aid of image editing software the distance between WL and maximum irrigant penetration was measured.

Results

Mean distances for Monoject, PUI, and EndoVac groups were 1.51 mm, 0.21 mm, and 0.42 mm, respectively. Analysis of variance test showed statistically significant differences between groups (P < .001). Tukey honestly significant difference test showed statistically significant differences between the Monoject group and the other 2 groups (P < .001) but no significant differences between PUI and EndoVac groups (P = .06).

Conclusions

PUI and EndoVac are more effective than the conventional endodontic needle in delivering irrigant to WL of root canals.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted following the requirements of the Ethic Committee of the National Institute of Science and Technology regarding research involving human tissues. Written informed consent was obtained from each of the patients participating in the study.

Samples for this study were obtained from 30 first and/or second vital mandibular molars with root canal treatment indication, with 2 separate and completely developed roots, without radiographic evidence of periapical pathology and root

Results

Longest distances between WL and maximum irrigant penetration were observed in the Monoject group, with a mean distance of 1.51 ± 0.43 mm, followed by the EndoVac group with a mean distance of 0.42 ± 0.30 mm. Shortest distances were observed in the PUI group with a mean distance of 0.21 ± 0.25 mm (Fig. 3).

Analysis of variance test showed statistically significant differences between groups (P < .001). Tukey honestly significant post hoc tests showed significant statistical differences between

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to compare in vivo the efficacy of the conventional endodontic irrigation syringe, PUI, and a negative pressure system for irrigant delivery to WL of mesial canals of mandibular molars. These canals were selected because of their anatomic characteristics, because most of them are narrow and curved, with a high incidence of isthmuses between them (18).

Sodium hypochlorite was used during the whole preparation procedure to allow the hydrolysis of organic tissue

Acknowledgments

The authors deny any conflicts of interest related to this study.

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