2019 Volume 62 Issue 6 Pages 304-310
Purpose: Laser-activated root canal irrigation is reported to be efficient for cleaning the root canal system but the risk of irrigant extrusion from the apical foramen remains a concern. This study aimed to evaluate the generation of apical pressure during irrigant activation using a 980-nm diode laser system (Alta Modular Laser System; MLS) with an optothermal converter-coated tip (Thermo-optically Powered tip; TOP tip).
Methods: Plastic root canal models (0.40-mm inner tip diameter and 6% taper) filled with distilled water were irrigated for 20 s using either the MLS with the TOP tip (Group TOP) or conventional syringe irrigation (Group SI) with different tip/needle insertion depths (2, 5, or 10 mm from the apical foramen). The output power of MLS was set at 2 W (120 mJ, 16 pps). Apical pressure generated during irrigation was measured with a pressure sensor connected to the apex of the model. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test. Significance was set at 5%.
Results: Group SI (−2 mm and−5 mm) showed significantly higher apical pressure compared with the other subgroups (p<0.05). In Group TOP, there were no significant differences among different tip insertion depths (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Under the present experimental conditions, irrigant activation using the MLS with the TOP tip generated significantly lower apical pressure than syringe irrigation when the tip insertion depth was set deeper in the canal.
