Polypropylene needles better than stainless steel versions for cleaning apical portion of severely curved root canals: Study
Researchers have found in a new research that Polypropylene needles outperformed traditional stainless steel versions for cleaning the apical portion of severely curved root canals. While the material choice made a difference, supplemental activation was the most effective method for overall debridement across all canal shapes, though it carried a higher risk of pushing material beyond the apex (extrusion).
This in vitro study compared the cleaning efficacy and irrigant extrusion of polypropylene needles and various supplemental irrigation techniques in curved root canals. Simulated canals with 20° (moderate) and 40° (severe) curvatures were prepared to size 25/0.07 and filled with biofilm-mimicking hydrogel.
Six irrigation techniques were tested (n = 9 per group): conventional irrigation with stainless steel needles (SN), conventional irrigation with polypropylene needles (PN), and stainless-steel needles supplemented with manual dynamic agitation using a 4% standardized cone (MDA-S), manual dynamic agitation with a matched cone (MDA-M), sonic activation with EDDY, or mechanical activation with XP-endo Finisher (XP). Residual hydrogel in the main canal, hydrogel clearance in accessory canals, and irrigant extrusion through the apical vent were assessed. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (P < .05).
Results: In the severe curvature, PN resulted in significantly less residual hydrogel in the main canal than SN (P < .05). However, in both curvatures, all supplemental techniques showed superior performance compared with PN (P < .05). MDA-M provided the greatest hydrogel clearance in main and accessory canals (P < .05), but with the highest extrusion (P < .05).
Polypropylene needles improved apical cleaning in severely curved canals compared with stainless steel needles. However, supplemental activation provided superior overall debridement in both curvatures, although with an increased risk of extrusion.
Reference:
Comparative Efficacy and Extrusion risk of Polypropylene Needle Versus Various Supplemental Irrigations in Cleaning Simulated Curved Root Canals. Eungnapatanin, Sasin et al. Journal of Endodontics, Volume 0, Issue 0
