Influence of Taper of Root Canal Shape on the Intracanal Bacterial Reduction.

Objectives: Taper is a factor that determines final root canal dimensions and consequently, the space available for the cleaning action of irrigants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of taper on intracanal bacterial reduction.

Methods: Sterilized root canals of 25 mandibular incisors were inoculated with and then divided into two experimental groups and one control group (A= saline, B= NaOCl + EDTA and C= control, not prepared).

Effectiveness of a canal brush on removing smear layer: a scanning electron microscopic study.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a highly flexible endodontic brush made of polypropylene canal brush (CanalBrush; Coltène) on smear layer removal from the canal walls when used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Forty-four single-rooted mandibular incisors were prepared to apical size 30/0.06 and randomly divided into three groups A, B and C, where the final irrigation regimen was 10 mL 17% EDTA and 10 mL 2.

In vitro evaluation of dentin tubule occlusion by Denshield and Neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser irradiation.

Introduction: This in vitro study evaluated the efficacy of bioglass (Denshield; Novamin Technology, Alachua, FL) and Neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on dentinal tubuli orifice occlusion (DOO) by comparing samples examined under environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) after applying each desensitizing approach separately and in combination.

Methods: Forty-eight human molars were collected, randomly organized in 4 equal groups, and had their cervical dentin exposed. Additionally, in half of the specimens of each experimental group, the smear layer was removed (subgroups A1, B1, C1, and D1).

Influence of root canal taper on its cleanliness: a scanning electron microscopic study.

Introduction: Taper is a factor that determines final root canal dimensions and, consequently, the dimensions of the space for the cleaning action of irrigants. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of taper on root canal cleanliness.

Methods: Root canals of 45 mandibular incisors were divided into 3 groups and prepared with GT rotary files to apical preparation size 30 and final taper 0.

Evaluation of different methods for the root-end cavity preparation.

Objective: The dentinal walls of root-end cavities were examined for the presence of cracks and debris in correlation with the area of the root surfaces that remained after the resection.

Study Design: One hundred extracted single-rooted teeth were endodontically treated, mounted in acrylic resin blocks, and the apical 2 mm of the root-apex was resected. According to the resected root surface area the teeth were divided into 2 groups having large (>2 mm(2)) or small (<2 mm(2)) surface area.

Q-switched versus free-running Er:YAG laser efficacy on the root canal walls of human teeth: a SEM study.

Twenty-one teeth with one root canal were prepared by the step-back technique, divided into three groups, and split longitudinally. Group A served as a control. In group B, 20 to 150 pulses of 100 micros, 30 to 70 mJ per pulse at 1 to 4 Hz from a free-running Er:YAG laser were applied to the root-canal dentin.