Some observations on the breakage of ultrasonic files driven piezoelectrically.
The incidence of breakage of Piezon-Master ultrasonic K files were evaluated. Three groups of unused files were subjected to three treatments, namely; free vibration in air without irrigation, free vibration in root canal while minimizing contact with the wall of canal in the presence of irrigation and light filing in root canal with free flow of irrigation. Cavitation produced by files in contact and free of contact with a glass surface was examined in order to observe the relationship between cavitation defects and breakage. In addition, the fractured and unfractured files were examined under a scanning electron microscope for the presence of cavitation pits. The results indicated that more files broke in air. In water, a higher incidence of breakage occurred when files were allowed to freely vibrate while no breakage occurred when the files were used in filing. All files generated cavitation which resulted in pitting of their surfaces. However, it was considered unlikely that the pits contributed to fracture. Fatigue cracks which could be the result of the manufacturing process were observed at some of the corners of the cross sections of the fractured files and could be the main contributory factor to fracture.
Apical debris removal of CanalBrushes with different tip modifications.
OBJECTIVE
In this study the apical debris score regarding the rotary use of the CanalBrush (Coltène-Whaledent) with three different tip variations was compared to that of sole needle irrigation.


METHOD AND MATERIALS
Sixty straight roots of human teeth with one canal were instrumented to size 45/.04. Roots were split into halves, reassembled, and embedded in model resin to form separable tooth models. Artificially manufactured dentin debris was packed into the apical 2 mm of the roots to form a relatively consistent debris challenge to be assessed. Then, the debris of each root half was evaluated apically using a modified Hülsmann-score under a light microscope. After remounting the models, root canals were irrigated with NaOCl 3% (2 mL): group 1 with sole needle irrigation, in groups 2 to 4 additionally agitated with different versions of the CanalBrush for 30 s at 600 rpm; group 2, one straight bristle ("old"); group 3, two additional diagonal bristles ("new"); group 4, central straight bristle of the new version removed ("experimental"). Following this, all root halves were reevaluated.


RESULTS
Irrigation reduced debris scores in all groups (Wilcoxon tests, P < .001). Mean debris scores were reduced from a pre-irrigation score of about 4 for all groups to a score of around 2 to 3 in groups 1 and 2, and to scores around 1 in groups 3 and 4. Samples of groups 3 and 4 were significantly cleaner than of groups 1 and 2 (Mann-Whitney tests, P < .05).


CONCLUSION
CanalBrushes with diagonal bristles achieved an improved apical cleaning ability.
A scanning electron microscope evaluation of root canal débridement with the endosonic ultrasonic synergistic system.
Abstract Endosonic and conventional hand-filing techniques were compared, by means of scanning electron microscopy, for their ability to debride root canal walls. The endosonic ultrasonic system was found to be significantly superior.