APICAL VAPOUR LOCK EFFECT -PHENOMENON RELATED TO ENDODONTIC IRRIGATION - A REVIEW.

Abstract

Complete debridement of the root canal system is a primary requirement for the successful root canal treatment 1. Thus for optimum disinfection , a thorough cleaning and shaping is mandatory ; so the current concept in Endodontics is ‘ Files shape, irrigants clean’2. Even with the use of rotary instrumentation, the nickel-titanium instruments currently available only act on the central body of the canal, leaving canal fins, isthmi, and cul-de-sacs untouched after completion of the preparation. These areas might harbor tissue debris, microbes, and their by-products, which might prevent close adaptation of the obturation material and result in persistent periradicular inflammation 3,4.So the irrigants must be brought into direct contact with the entire canal wall surfaces for effective action, particularly for the apical portions of small root canals. Recently, concern has been expressed about the possible presence of gas bubbles in the apical part of the root canal that could block irrigant penetration and may affect effective debridement.This phenomenon is termed as‘apical vapor lock’5 (AVL). It is also called as Dead Water Zone.