Removal of the smear layer from flattened canals using different chemical substances.

This study used scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the flattened root canals of human mandibular incisors cleaned with nickel-titanium instruments and different chemical substances. Teeth were selected and divided randomly into five groups (n = 10) according to the chemical substances used in the biomechanical preparation: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (Group 1), 5.25% sodium hypochlorite plus a final irrigation with 17% EDTAC (Group 2), EDTA gel combined with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (Group 3), 2% chlorhexidine gel (Group 4), and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite combined with Glyde File Prep gel (Group 5). Data analysis showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) among groups. Groups 1 and 5 were similar statistically (p > 0.001) and displayed a higher amount of smear layer on canal walls. Samples from Groups 2, 3, and 4 revealed root canal walls without smear layer and exposed dentin tubules. Among the associations tested in this study, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution combined with 17% EDTAC, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite combined with EDTA gel, and 2% chlorhexidine gel all were effective substances for removing the smear layer from flattened root canals.

Radiographic prevalence of root canal ramifications in a sample of root canal treatments in a Brazilian Dental School.

The aim of this study was to radiographically investigate the presence of root canal ramifications found after endodontic treatment, and to determine any relationship between their presence and the type of the auxiliary chemical substance used. The study evaluated 1,470 endodontic treatments performed by final year undergraduate students at the Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil, during the period from 1998 to 2000. The X-rays taken during treatment were evaluated in order to establish the presence of ramifications of the root canal system. The initial X-ray did not show the presence of any canal ramifications. After filling, X-rays showed only 3 ramification types: 3.06% of lateral canals, 2.99% of apical deltas, and 0.1% of interradicular canals. The maxillary premolars showed the highest number of lateral canals (n = 13), followed by mandibular premolars (n = 10) and maxillary incisors (n = 10). Apical deltas were mostly found in mandibular molars (n = 14), followed by maxillary incisors (n = 9). Only mandibular molars had interradicular canals. The detection of ramifications increased with the use of EDTA. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between the type of auxiliary chemical substance used and the number of root canal ramifications detected after root canal filling. It was concluded that the frequency of root canal ramifications found radiographically was low in treatments performed by undergraduate students.