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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1801306
Original Article

A Comparative Evaluation of Different Irrigation Activation Techniques on Root Canal Cleanliness: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study

Lubna Ahmad 
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sudha Rustagi College, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Prashant Bhasin
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sudha Rustagi College, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Hemanshi Kumar
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sudha Rustagi College, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Vrinda Vats
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sudha Rustagi College, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Prateek Madan
1   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sudha Rustagi College, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Monika Tandan
2   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Manav Rachna Dental College, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, India
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Abstract

Objective This article compares the effect of ultrasonic, sonic activation of intracanal heated 3% sodium hypochlorite and laser-activated 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on root canal cleanliness using scanning electron microscope.

Materials and Methods Eighty-eight permanent mandibular premolars were extracted and decoronated to obtain 14 mm of standardized root length. Working length was calculated and canals were prepared till size 25/0.04. Samples were randomly divided into four groups according to the method of irrigation employed (n = 22)—group A: passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) of 3% intracanal heated NaOCl, group B: sonic activation of 3% intracanal heated NaOCl, group C: activation of 3% NaOCl by diode laser, and group D: conventional needle irrigation (CNI). Samples were split into two halves and the presence of debris at these regions was graded under scanning electron microscope. The chi-square test was employed to assess significant differences in cleanliness scores and pairwise comparisons using the Dunn test were performed to identify specific group difference. A p-value of < 0.05 was kept as level of significance for all analysis.

Results Group A and group B showed maximum cleanliness in middle third as compared with apical third. Group C (laser) showed better cleanliness in apical third as compared with middle third. While group D (CNI) irrigation showed the lowest cleaning efficiency both in the middle third and apical third.

Conclusion It was concluded that PUI with intracanal heating of 3% NaOCl and diode laser activation of 3% NaOCl can be recommended as a potential irrigant activation strategy to effectively clean inaccessible areas of the root canal system.

Keywords

diode laser - root canal cleanliness - scanning electron microscope - sonic - ultrasonic activation


Publication History

Article published online:
06 March 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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