Passive ultrasonic irrigation, EndoActivator system and XP-endo Finisher R as additional cleaning techniques to remove residual filling materials from flattened root canals

Nicole Carmo Baumeier; Marco Antônio Húngaro Duarte; Rodrigo Ricci Vivan; Arthur Costa Lemos; Ricardo Machado; Ulisses Xavier da Silva Neto

doi:10.4103/jcd.jcd_117_22

Passive ultrasonic irrigation, EndoActivator system and XP-endo Finisher R as additional cleaning techniques to remove residual filling materials from flattened root canals

J Conserv Dent. 2022 Jul-Aug;25(4):385-391. doi: 10.4103/jcd.jcd_117_22. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Authors

Nicole Carmo Baumeier¹, Marco Antônio Húngaro Duarte², Rodrigo Ricci Vivan², Arthur Costa Lemos², Ricardo Machado³, Ulisses Xavier da Silva Neto¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endodontics, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
² Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, Baurú School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Baurú, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Clinical Practice Limited to Endodontics, Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: The effectiveness of endodontic retreatment essentially depends on the cleaning and/or disinfection processes. In this context, the removal of root canal filling materials plays a crucial role.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), EndoActivator system (EAS), and XP-endo Finisher R (XPEFR) as additional cleaning techniques to remove the remaining root canal filling materials from flattened root canals.

Subjects and methods: Thirty-six similar flattened distal root canals of extracted human first lower molars were selected by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and then instrumented and filled. After the initial retreatment procedures, the residual volume of root canal filling materials was assessed by micro-CT (V1). Then, the specimens were divided into three groups (n. 12), according to the additional cleaning technique and submitted to another micro-CT scan (V2).

Statistical analysis used: Analysis of variance and Games-Howell tests (P < 0.05).

Results: The percentage reduction in the residual volume of root canal filling materials reached by PUI, EAS, and XPEFR was 28.38%, 28.12%, and 43.52%, respectively, considering the total space of the root canal (P > 0.05). In the apical third, these values were 20.05%, 21.54%, and 48.82% (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Additional cleaning techniques enabled removing a greater amount of root canal filling material from flattened distal root canals of extracted human first lower molars. Considering the total space of the root canal, there were no statistically relevant differences among the groups. In the apical third, XPEFR performed better.

Keywords: EndoActivator; XP-endo Finisher R; endodontic retreatment; passive ultrasonic irrigation.