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This in vitro study sought to compare the efficacy of a sonic irrigant activation device with ultrasonic activation and needle irrigation in removing hard tissue debris (HTD) from anatomic complexities of the root canal system. Twenty-seven mesial roots of extracted human mandibular molars with 2 canals connected by an isthmus were selected based on micro–computed tomography scans (12-μm voxel size). The mesial canals were mechanically prepared to ProTaper Next X3 (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and anatomically distributed into 3 groups (n = 9) according to the final irrigation protocol: sonically activated irrigation (SAI) using the EDDY system (VDW GbmH, Munich, Germany) for 3 × 20 seconds, ultrasonically activated irrigation (UAI) using a size 20 Irrisafe tip (Satelec Acteon, Mérignac, France) for 3 × 20 seconds, and conventional irrigation using a 30-G needle adapted to a syringe. Micro–computed tomographic scans were taken after instrumentation and after supplementary activation of the irrigant. After reconstruction and coregistration, the volume filled with HTD before and after irrigant activation was calculated, and the mean percentage of HTD reduction after final irrigation was compared within and among groups using the paired sample t test and 1-way analysis of variance post hoc Tukey test, respectively (α = 5%). A significant reduction in the volume filled with HTD after irrigant activation was observed in all groups (P <.05). The percentage reduction of HTD in the UAI group (66.8%) was significantly higher than that in the SAI group (36.4%) (P <.05), whereas the conventional irrigation group result (43.7%) did not differ statistically from the UAI or SAI groups (P >.05). All tested supplementary irrigation steps significantly reduced the amount of debris created during root canal preparation. Ultrasonic activation resulted in the highest mean debris reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different irrigating methods in removing the smear layer at 1, 3, 5, and 8 mm from the apex of endodontic canals. Methods: Sixty-five extracted single-rooted human mandibular premolars were decoronated to a standardized length of 16 mm. Specimens were shaped to ProTaper F4 (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl at 37°C. Teeth were divided into 5 groups (2 control groups [n = 10] and 3 test groups [n = 15]) according to the final irrigant activation/delivering technique (ie, sonic irrigation, passive ultrasonic irrigation [PUI], or apical negative pressure). Root canals were then split longitudinally and observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The presence of debris and a smear layer at 1, 3, 5, and 8 mm from the apex was evaluated. Scores were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The EndoActivator System (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK) was significantly more efficient than PUI and the control groups in removing the smear layer at 3, 5, and 8 mm from the apex. The EndoVac System (Discus Dental, Culver City, CA) removed statistically significantly more smear layer than all groups at 1, 3, 5, and 8 mm from the apex. At 5 and 8 mm from the apex, PUI and the EndoVac did not differ statistically significantly, but both performed statistically better than the control groups. Conclusions: In our study, none of the activation/delivery systems completely removed the smear layer from the endodontic dentine walls; nevertheless, the EndoActivator and EndoVac showed the best results at 3, 5, and 8 mm (EndoActivator) and 1, 3, 5, and 8 mm (EndoVac) from the apex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Different techniques and irrigant delivery devices have been proposed to increase the flow and distribution of irrigating solutions within the root canal system. The aim of this study was to compare smear layer removal after final irrigant activation with apical negative pressure (ANP), manual dynamic agitation (MDA), and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI). Methods: Forty single-rooted human mandibular premolars were decoronated to a standardized length of 16 mm. They were cleaned and shaped by using ProTaper system to size F4 and NaOCl 2.5%. The specimens were divided into 4 equal groups (n = 10) according to the final irrigation activation technique: group 1, passive irrigation (PI); group 2, apical negative pressure (ANP) (EndoVac); group 3, manual dynamic activation (MDA); and group 4, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI). Samples were split longitudinally and examined under scanning electron microscope for smear layer presence. Results: PI and PUI had the highest smear scores, with no significant differences between them. This was followed by MDA and finally ANP, which showed the statistically significant lowest mean score at P ≤ .05. Conclusions: Final irrigant activation with ANP and MDA resulted in better removal of the smear layer than with PUI or PI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]