Effect of continuous soft chelating irrigation protocol on removal of smear layer

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of continuous soft chelating irrigation protocol with conventional irrigation protocol. Methodology: sixty extracted single-rooted human teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =12) and instrumented using Protaper Universal nickel-titanium rotary instruments. In conventional irrigation group each canal was subsequently irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl followed with 17%EDTA (Group A), SmearClear (Group B) or SmearOFF (Group C). After that, all the specimens were subjected to irrigation with 5.25% NaOCl. In continous soft chelating irrigation group The irrigation while instrumentation and after instrumention was done with Chloroquick Low (9% hebp + 3% NaOCl) (Group D) and Chloroquick High (18% hebp + 5.25% NaOCl) (Group E). teeth were then processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the removal of the smear layer was examined in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Result: The efficacy of various agents for smear layer removal was assessed by comparison of groups using Kruskal Wallis ANOVA and Mann- Whitney U test. The results showed that there were no significant differences in Conventional irrigation protocol groups and continuous irrigation protocol group at coronal and middle thirds of root canals but at apical third Chloroquick High was able to remove more smear layer statistically when compared to all the groups (p_0.029). Conclusion: this in-vitro study both the protocols conventional as well as continuous soft chelating irrigation protocols were able to remove smear layer at coronal and middle third of the root canals but at apical third only continues soft chelating irrigation protocol performed with Chloroquick High shows better removal of smear layer.