Abstract
Introduction
Elimination of the smear layer after root canal instrumentation requires the use of
irrigating solutions. This cleaning can be completed with passive ultrasonic or sonic
irrigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EndoActivator
System in removing the smear layer after rotary root canal instrumentation, with and
without a final flush of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution, in coronal,
middle, and apical thirds.
Methods
Forty single-canal teeth were decoronated and randomly divided into 4 groups (n =
10). The groups were instrumented by using Mtwo System. EndoActivator was used with
a final rinse of 1 mL of 17% EDTA or 4% NaOCl for 1 minute. The roots were longitudinally
split and were grooved in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Scanning electron
microscopy digital photomicrographs at 400× were taken to evaluate the amount of smear
layer in each third.
Results
The NaOCl/EndoActivator group did not remove any smear layer of the root canal wall
(100% in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds). In the groups that used 17% EDTA
(with or without EndoActivator), the smear layer was eliminated completely (100%)
in the coronal third, but the amount of removal was less in the other two thirds.
The comparisons between NaOCl versus NaOCl/EndoActivator groups and EDTA/NaOCl versus
EDTA/EndoActivator/NaOCl groups showed no significant differences in root canal thirds.
Conclusions
The EndoActivator System did not enhance the removal of smear layer as compared with
conventional Max-I-Probe irrigation with NaOCl and EDTA.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 14, 2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
