RESUMO
Introduction: The predictability of successful non-surgical endodontic retreatment is directly related to it's ability to completely cleanse and remove obturation material from the canal system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the removal of gutta-percha from curved canals using three final irrigation methods: passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) with a 20/01 E1 insert (Irrisonic); XP-endo Finisher (XPF); and Easy Clean (EC). Methods and Materials: Forty mesial roots of mandibular molars with an angle of curvature between 10° and 20°, two canals, and independent foramina were cut into 16-mm sections. The canals were instrumented using the Reciproc system (R25) and filled with a #25 gutta-percha cone and AH-Plus sealer by the continuous-wave condensation technique. The roots were double-sealed with Coltosol and photopolymerizable resin and stored at 37°C and 100% humidity for 30 days. They were then randomized into 4 groups (n=10): control (C), PUI, XPF, and EC. All specimens were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and fill volume data (in square pixels) were calculated before retreatment, after retreatment, and after final irrigation. The images were analyzed using Tps Dig software 2.32 by two blinded, calibrated examiners (intra-class correlation coefficient=0.9967). The results were analyzed in BioEstat 4.0. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-hoc and Friedman comparison were applied. Significance was accepted at 5% (P<0.05). Results: None of the final irrigation protocols completely removed remnants of obturation material from the root canal systems (P>0.05). On comparative analysis with specimens divided into thirds, all methods were found to remove material equally, with no significant differences (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on this in vitro study, the additional cleaning methods tested were equivalent to each other and did not lead to an improvement in the removal of residual obturation material.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to quantify the amount of debris apically extruded after instrumentation with two reciprocating systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two single-rooted mandibular premolars with only one straight root canal and apical diameter compatible with a no. 15 K-file were randomly divided into two groups (n = 21) according to the instrument used: ProDesign R (Easy Equipamentos; Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Reciproc Blue (VDW; Munich, Germany). Dry Eppendorf tubes were weighed three consecutive times for the initial mean weight. A silicone stopper was then fitted into the mouth of the tube. Each tooth was inserted through the stopper up to the cementoenamel junction and instrumented with one of the two systems to the predetermined working length (18 mm). The root canals were instrumented per root thirds. At each instrumented root third, the canal was irrigated with 3 mL of double-distilled water, followed by patency control. Each stopper was then separated from the tube and tubes were incubated at 70°C for 5 days. Tubes were again weighed, and the amount of extruded debris was calculated by subtracting the initial mean weight from the final mean weight. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in debris extrusion between the ProDesign R and Reciproc Blue systems (p = 0.7557). CONCLUSIONS: The two reciprocating systems tested produced similar amounts of postinstrumentation apically extruded debris.
