Antibacterial ability of different activated irrigation after root canal preparation: intratubular analyses

Abstract This study assessed the intratubular antibacterial ability of different activated irrigations after chemical mechanical preparation. Seventy-two palatal root canals of upper molars were infected with Enterococcus faecalis for 4 weeks, and then initial bacterial collection from the main root canal was performed. The root canals were prepared by using a WaveOne Gold large (45/.05) and distributed into 6 groups according to the activation of the final irrigation: ultrasonic activation (UA), XP-Endo Finisher (25/.00), XP Clean (25/.02), EasyClean (25/.04) in reciprocating motion and continuous rotary motion (ECRot), and conventional irrigation. After final irrigation, another bacterial collection from the main root canal was performed, and the root was sectioned transversely in three-thirds and stained for analysis by confocal laser microscopy. Intratubular bacteria were collected through dentin powder and plated for bacterial viability analysis. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed by using analysis of variance and repeated measures analysis of variance, respectively, both at 5% significance. ECRot had higher antibacterial ability than UA (p<0.05), and both were superior to the other groups (p<0.05) in both methodologies. It can be concluded that activation of final irrigation enhances the disinfection of the root canal system, and activators have different efficacies

Resumo Este estudo avaliou a capacidade antibacteriana intratubular de diferentes irrigações ativadas após o preparo químico-mecânico. Setenta e dois canais palatinos de molares superiores foram contaminados com Enterococcus faecalis por 4 semanas, e então a coleta bacteriana inicial do canal principal foi realizada. Os canais foram preparados com WaveOne Gold large (45/.05) e distribuídos em 6 grupos de acordo com a ativação da irrigação final: ativação ultrassônica (UA), XP-Endo Finisher (25/.00), XP Clean (25/.02), EasyClean (25/.04) em movimento reciprocante e em movimento rotatório contínuo (ECRot) e irrigação convencional. Após a irrigação final, outra coleta bacteriana do canal principal foi realizada, e a raiz foi seccionada transversalmente em três terços e corada para análise por microscopia laser confocal. Bactérias intra tubulares foram coletadas através de pó de dentina e cultivadas para análise de viabilidade bacteriana. As comparações entre grupos e intragrupos foram realizadas usando análise de variância e análise de variância de medidas repetidas, respectivamente, ambas com 5% de significância. ECRot apresentou maior capacidade antibacteriana que UA (p<0,05), e ambos foram superiores aos demais grupos (p<0,05) em ambas as metodologias. Pode-se concluir que a ativação da irrigação final melhora a desinfecção do sistema de canais radiculares, e os ativadores têm eficácias diferentes.

Effectiveness of ultrasonic activation associated to glycolic acid on smear layer removal, dentin structure and bond strength to root dentin

This study evaluated the effects of ultrasonic activation (US) associated to glycolic acid (GA) on smear layer, dentin structure and bond strength (BS) of filling/restorative material to root dentin. The roots were used for antimicrobial activity, dentin structure and BS evaluation, being distributed into seven groups, according to irrigation protocols: G1:DW+US; G2:17% EDTA; G3:QMix; G4:17% GA; G5:17% EDTA+US; G6:QMix+US; G7:17% GA+US. Scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy and push-out were performed, with specific statistical analysis for each evaluation. The highest smear layer removal occured in Groups 6 and 7 (p<0.05), and the largest collagen dispersion in Group 7, being similar to Group 2 and 5 (p>0.05). The highest BS of filling and restorative material occurred in Groups 6 and 7, and Groups 5, 6 and 7, respectively, being similars between them (p>0.05). The use of GA+US promoted effective smear layer removal and dentin structure preservation, improving the BS of filling/restorative material to root dentin.

Influence of ultrasonic activation on antimicrobial activity of a new final irrigant containing glycolic acid: An in vitro study.

This study evaluated the influence of ultrasonic activation (US) on the antimicrobial activity of a new final irrigant containing glycolic acid (GA). Extracted teeth were used, being 70 to counting of colony-forming units (CFUs) and 35 to confocal laser scanning microscopy. Samples were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and divided into 7 groups: distilled water + US; 17% EDTA; Qmix; 17% GA; 17% EDTA + US; QMix + US; and 17% GA + US and kept in contact with test solution for 1 min in the groups with or no US. In the CFUs, the highest bacterial reduction was observed in QMix + US group, followed by QMix and GA + US. In the confocal evaluation, the lowest number of viable cells was observed in EDTA + US, with no statistical difference from QMix, QMix + US and GA + US (P > 0.05). The use of US improves the antimicrobial activity of EDTA and GA, being statistically different from the isolated use of these final irrigants in both evaluation tests.

Cytotoxicity of different concentrations of glycolic acid and its effects on root dentin microhardness - An in vitro study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of different glycolic acid concentrations (GA) and its effects on dentinal microhardness. Cytotoxicity was evaluated after inoculation of test irrigants in the lymphocyte primary culture for 3 min. The tested substances were distilled water(DW); 17% EDTA; QMix; 10% GA; 17% GA; and 25% GA. Counting of total, live and dead cells was performed, obtaining the average percentage of dead cells of each group. For microhardness evaluation, 60 root dentin samples were divided into the same tested groups (n = 10) and immersed in test irrigants for 3 min. Dentin microhardness was evaluated by Vicker test. Specific statistical analysis was made in both tests. Results showed significant lower cytotoxicity for QMix and 10% GA (P < 0.05). Moreover, all test irrigants presented similar values of microhardness than the control group (P > 0.05). In conclusion, lower GA concentration can be an alternative for final irrigation on endodontics.

Tubular dentin sealer penetration after different final irrigation protocols: A confocal laser scanning microscopy study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate tubular dentin sealer penetration, comparing different final irrigation protocols using a conventional needle (CONV), EndoActivator system (EAS), EndoVac system (EVS), and ultrasound (PUI). Initially, fifty-two first maxillary molars with a single canal in the palatal root, without abrupt curvatures, resorptive processes, or previous endodontic treatment were selected for this study. Then, the crowns were sectioned to obtain palatal roots 15 mm in length. The root canals were prepared with the ProTaper Universal System and irrigated with 5% NaOCl. Afterwards, the specimens were divided into four groups (n. 13), according to the final irrigation protocol: CONV, EAS, EVS, and PUI. After filling, slices at 3 mm and 5 mm from the apex were obtained for analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Two-way comparisons between the groups and the levels were performed with Games Howell's test (p < .05). Tubular dentin sealer penetration was higher at 5 mm compared with 3 mm from the apex (p < .05). The EAS group showed a higher percentage of tubular dentin sealer penetration, compared with the CONV group, at both levels. At 3 mm, there was no statistically significant difference among EAS, EVS, and PUI; however, these groups showed better performance, compared with the CONV group. At 5 mm, there was no statistically significant difference between the EAS and EVS groups, but both showed higher sealer penetration than the PUI group (p < .05). The EAS and EVS groups achieved better degrees of tubular dentin sealer penetration, compared with the other groups.

Comparative Analysis of Dentinal Erosion after Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation versus Irrigation with Reciprocating Activation: An Environmental Scanning Electron Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess ex vivo the erosive effects of passive ultrasonic irrigation versus irrigation with reciprocating activation on the dentinal surface of the root canal at 3 predetermined levels using environmental scanning electron microscopy. METHODS: Ten roots of mandibular premolars were prepared using the ProTaper Universal system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). The specimens were embedded in flasks cleaved longitudinally, and indentations were made 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 mm from the apex. The specimens in the control group (n = 10) were cleaned in an ultrasonic bath containing 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA and then dried. Then, environmental scanning electron microscopic images were obtained at magnification × 800. The specimens were then reassembled in their flasks, and the NaOCl and EDTA solutions were activated according to the conditions established for the experimental groups (ie, the passive ultrasonic irrigation group [n = 5] and the EasyClean (Easy Equipamentos Odontológicos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil) group, irrigation with reciprocating activation with the EasyClean instrument [n = 5]). The specimens of both experimental groups were analyzed in the same manner as in the control group. Analysis of the dentinal surface topography was conducted using the 3D Roughness Reconstruction program (Phenom-World BV, Eindhoven, the Netherlands) as a means for assessing erosion. The data were evaluated by means of the Kruskal-Wallis, Student-Newman-Keuls, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: In the EasyClean group, the degree of dentinal erosion at 3.0 mm was significantly higher than at 9.0 mm. In the other comparisons, there was no statistically significant difference (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The final irrigation techniques tested were equivalent in relation to the degree of erosion caused to the dentinal surface.

The effect of final irrigation on the penetrability of an epoxy resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules: a confocal microscopy study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of QMix, BioPure MTAD, 17 % EDTA, and saline on the penetrability of a resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and to describe the cleaning of root canal walls by SEM. METHODS: Eighty distobuccal roots from upper molars were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 20) before root canal preparation according to the solution used in the final rinse protocol (FRP): QG (QMix), MG (BioPure MTAD), EG (17 % EDTA), and CG (control group: saline). Ten roots of each group were prepared for SEM, and images (×2000) from the canal walls were acquired. The remaining canals were filled with a single gutta-percha cone and AH Plus with 0.1 % Rhodamine B. The specimens were horizontally sectioned at 4 mm from the apex, and the slices were analyzed in CLSM (×10). Sealer penetration was analyzed with Adobe Photoshop software. RESULTS: QG and EG presented similar amounts of sealer penetration (P > .05). MG and CG presented the lowest penetrability values (P < .05). The best results for smear layer removal of the apical third of the root canal were achieved by the QG and EG groups when compared with MG and CG (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Seventeen percent EDTA and QMix promoted sealer penetration superior to that achieved by BioPure MTAD and saline. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Despite studies have not confirmed the relationship between sealing ability of endodontic sealers and their penetration in dentinal tubules, sealer penetration assumes importance, since endodontic sealers, unlike gutta-percha, are able to penetrate in dentinal tubules, isthmus, and accessory canals, filling the root canal system.