Analysis of the efficacy of three cleaning protocols used to remove debris during endodontic treatment: a scanning electron microscopic study

Abstract

Objective: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the cleaning and debris removal by passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), easy clean (EC), and prophylactic canal brush (PCB) in mandibular premolars. Material and Methods: Forty-eight single-rooted human teeth were divided into three experimental groups (PUI, EC and PCB) and a control group (CON). After access, they were prepared by irrigation with 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) up to instrument No. 40/.06 and longitudinally scored so that the specimens could be split. The split samples were taken to the SEM to detect the presence of debris and smear layer. Randomized final cleaning protocols were performed, and a second SEM image was taken for comparative analysis between groups. Kruskal-Wallis and then to the Student-Newman-Keuls tests were applied, both with p < 0.05. Results: No protocol was able to completely clean the canals. A significant difference was observed only in the cervical and middle region with PCB compared to the control group; in the other regions there was no significant difference between the techniques (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Under the conditions of the study, all techniques promoted cleaning of the examined regions of the canals, although none of the protocols completely removed debris from the canals. In the cervical third, PCB offered better results than the control.

KEYWORDS

Endodontics; Irrigation; Smear layer; Sodium hypochlorite; Ultrasound.