Efficacy of EndoVac system and needle irrigation on root canal debridement

Introduction The aim of this study is to compare the debridement efficacy of the EndoVac irrigation system versus needle irrigation with different irrigant solutions using scanning electron microscope. Materials and methods Eighty human freshly extracted single rooted teeth with fully developed, single root canals were collected. The teeth were divided randomly into two equal main groups according to the method of irrigation system used: group A, EndoVac system; and group B, needle irrigation. Each group was further subdivided into four equal subgroups according to the type of irrigant solution used: subgroup 1; sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), subgroup 2; EDTA, subgroup 3; mixture of tetracycline, acid and detergent (MTAD), subgroup 4; saline. The canals were instrumented to a master apical file size #40/0.02 taper. Roots were split longitudinally in a buccolingual direction and examined under scanning electron microscope. Result At all tested root canal levels, group A recorded lower mean rank of score percentage compared to group B with statistical significant difference between them (P = 0.001 and 0.039 at the middle and the apical root level, respectively), while there was no statistical significant difference between both groups (P = 0.053) at the coronal root level. Conclusion The debridement efficacy of NaOCl only, NaOCl+EDTA, NaOCl+MTAD or even saline increased when using EndoVac system rather than conventional needles especially in the apical third.