Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the debridement efficacy of the EndoActivator (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK) versus the Ultrasonic Bypass system (Vista Dental) following hand-rotary instrumentation in anterior teeth. Sixty extracted human, maxillary anterior teeth were randomly assigned to three groups. Teeth were instrumented using (ISO k-flex) hand files and EndoSequence nickel-titanium rotary files (Brasseler, Savannah, GA) to a size 40/.06 taper. Group 1 served as the control group and had no additional treatment performed. Groups 2 and 3 were subjected to a final irrigating regimen that consisted of 6-percent sodium hypochlorite for a 1- minute duration. For group 2 the irrigation solution was activated for 1 minute using the EndoActivator system (DENTSPLY). For group 3, the irrigation solution was activated for 1 minute using the Ultrasonic Bypass System (Vista Dental). The teeth were then sectioned longitudinally and each half was divided into three equal parts 3 mm from the anatomic apex. The sample with the most visibly identifiable section of the apex was used for SEM evaluation. A scoring system to measure the efficacy of debris removal was utilized to quantify the results. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal- Wallis test. If the overall test is significant, a Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests was used to compare each pair of groups. The results of this study indicate that both the EndoActivator and Ultrasonic Bypass groups had a smaller percentage of canal space occupied by smear layer and debris when compared with the control group at all three levels. This difference was statistically significant for the Ultrasonic Bypass System when compared with the control at both the coronal and middle thirds of the samples evaluated. This difference was not statistically significant in the apical third. When compared with the EndoActivator, the Ultrasonic Bypass System produced cleaner canals in the coronal and middle thirds, with the difference being statistically significant in the middle third only. These results of this research support the use of either of these two devices when compared with the controls. Smear layer removal and debridement efficacy was greatly increased when using either sonic or ultrasonic activation of sodium hypochlorite. More research is warranted concerning these two devices. Examining the antimicrobial efficacy with the use of these two devices could lend additional validation to their use in non-surgical endodontic therapy.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This in-vitro, prospective, randomized study microscopically compared the debridement efficacy of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) using the Ultrasonic Bypass System and different irrigating protocols. Eighty extracted maxillary anterior teeth were randomly assigned to four groups. Teeth were instrumented using EndoSequence rotary instrument system and treated with passive ultrasonic irrigation with different irrigating regimens for one minute. Group one (control) was treated with hand/rotary instrumentation. Group two was treated with hand/rotary instrumentation followed by a one-minute PUI using the Ultrasonic Bypass System with 6.0-percent NaOCl. Group three was treated with hand/rotary instrumentation followed by a one-minute PUI using the Ultrasonic Bypass System with 17-percent EDTA. Group four was treated with hand/rotary instrumentation followed by a one-minute PUI using the Ultrasonic Bypass System with 30 seconds of 6.0-percent NaOCl and 30 seconds of 17-percent EDTA. Teeth were sectioned longitudinally and each half was divided into three equal parts from the anatomic apex. The half with the most visible part of the apex was used for SEM evaluation. A scoring system for debris and smear layer removal was used. Statistical analysis was performed using a Kruskal-Wallis test, which determines if there are any differences among the four groups. Following this test, a Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was used to compare each pair of groups. The addition of a one-minute PUI with the Ultrasonic Bypass System significantly enhanced the removal of smear layer when compared with the hand/rotary instrumentation with conventional irrigating solutions. The Ultrasonic Bypass System when used with the combination of 6.0-percent NaOCl and 17-percent EDTA after hand/rotary instrumentation significantly removed smear layer at the coronal, middle, and apical areas of a tooth when compared with all other groups. A one-minute PUI with the Ultrasonic Bypass System combined with NaOCl and EDTA is significantly better in smear removal and ultimately will result cleaner canal wall.