Three different removal protocols for a bioceramic and a calcium hydroxide dressings: A microcomputed tomography...

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Effective removal of intracanal medicaments is essential for achieving a proper seal in root canal treatments.
• Inadequate removal can compromise the long-term success of endodontic therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the efficacy of three different techniques for removing two common intracanal medications: Ultracal XS and Bio-C Temp.
• To assess the remaining medication volume using micro-computed tomography after employing manual irrigation, ultrasonic activation, and the XP-endo Finisher.

Main Methods:

• Roots were treated with either Ultracal XS or Bio-C Temp and then subjected to one of three removal protocols: manual irrigation, ultrasonic activation, or XP-endo Finisher.
• Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to quantify the volume of remaining intracanal medication in different root thirds.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was found in the removal capacity between the tested activation methods for either Ultracal XS or Bio-C Temp.
• Ultrasonic activation showed improved removal of Bio-C Temp in the cervical third compared to manual or XP-endo Finisher techniques.
• None of the evaluated protocols completely removed the intracanal medications from the root canal system.

Conclusions:

• The activation methods evaluated did not significantly differ in their overall capacity to remove Ultracal XS and Bio-C Temp.
• Complete removal of intracanal dressings remains a challenge, regardless of the technique employed.