Comparison of the efficacy of ‘F-File’ with sonic and ultrasonic debridement to remove artificially placed dentine debris from human root canals – An in vitro study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of ‘F-File’ with passive sonic and ultrasonic irrigation to remove artificially placed dentine debris from simulated uninstrumented canal extensions in root canals. 160 canine teeth were decoronated and their root canals instrumented to size 50, 0.05 taper. Each root was split longitudinally, forming two halves. A groove was cut in the canal wall 2-6 mm from the apex in one half which was then filled with dentine debris prior to the roots being reassembled. Then the roots were divided randomly in to four groups. In group 1, the root canal was flushed with 50 ml of 1% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) using simple syringe irrigation. In group 2, 1 minute Passive sonic irrigation was performed using 50ml of 1% NaOCl. In group 3, 1 minute Passive Ultrasonic irrigation was performed using 50ml of 1% NaOCl. In group 4, the F-file was used to agitate 1% NaOCl (total vol. 50ml) for 1 minute at 600 rpm. Before and after irrigation, images of the half of canal with groove were taken using a microscope and digital camera, after which they were scanned in to a computer as TIFF images. The percentage cleanliness of the groove was evaluated using Adobe Photoshop CS2 software. The differences in the percentage of clean area of the groove between four groups were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA.