Evaluation of apically extruded debris and irrigant using three instrumentation techniques

Abstract

Apical extrusion of debris during cleaning and shaping of the root canal is one of the common problems encountered by an Endodontist. The debris which contain necrotic dentin and bacteria initiates the antigen-antibody reaction, triggers the complement cascade and other inflammatory processes in the periradicular region. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively measure - the amount of debris extruded apically in single rooted canals with three different instrumentation techniques and to quantify the amount of irrigant forced apically. Time taken for each instrumentation was also determined. Group-I was instrumented with K-files by conventional step back method. Group-II with Profile 0.04 series by crown down technique and Group-III using engine driven Gates Glidden drills and K-files by Hybrid technique. Distilled water was used as an irrigant. Debris was collected in preweighed plastic vials. The irrigant was desiccated by dry seal vacuum dessicsator and plastic vials were weighed again. The mean difference in pre and post instrumentation of plastic vials showed the amount of debris extruded. Results showed that in Group-I the extrusion of debris and irrigant was more than the other groups. The time taken for Group-I was also significantly more.