Histologic analysis of the cleaning capacity of mechanical endodontic instruments activated by the ENDOflash system

The cleaning capacity of mechanical endodontic instruments activated by the ENDOflash system was evaluated by means of histologic and morphometric analyses. Twenty-two distobuccal roots of human maxillary molars from laboratory stock were randomly separated into four groups. Group 1 was instrumented with ENDOflash files, group 2 with ProFile taper .04 files, group 3 received instrumentation with Pow-R taper .04 files, and group 4 (positive control) was instrumented with Nitiflex files. After instrumentation, teeth were sectioned transversally and processed for microscopic evaluation to determine the amount of debris on root canal walls. Results obtained by morphometric analysis indicated significant statistical differences (p < 0.01) between groups. ProFile taper .04 files were significantly more efficient in cleaning the root canal, followed by Pow-R files, Nitiflex, and ENDOflash, which had the lowest levels for cleaning the root canals.