Abstract
CONTEXT: The removal of intracanal medicament is necessary to promote adequate sealing. AIMS: This study evaluated three techniques (conventional irrigation, Ultrasonic activation, and XP-endo Finisher) to remove intracanal medication (Ultracal XS and Bio-C Temp) using micro-computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The roots were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10) according to the intracanal medication and the irrigation protocol employed to remove the pastes: Ultracal and Manual (UC/M); Ultracal and XP-endo Finisher (UC/XP); Ultracal and Ultrasonic activation (UC/US); Bio-C Temp and Manual (BIO/M); Bio-C Temp and XP-endo Finisher (BIO/XP) and Bio-C Temp and Ultrasonic activation (BIO/US) The samples were then subjected to microcomputed tomography scan to assess the total volume of filling and remaining medication after removal protocol. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The Shapiro-Wilk normality test indicated a normal distribution of the data. Then, to compare the groups, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were performed. For all statistical tests used, the significance level established was 5%. RESULTS: When the samples were evaluated after applying the protocols regarding the root canal thirds, there was a greater remaining volume of Bio C Temp in the cervical third compared to the middle and apical thirds in the Bio C Temp/M and Bio C Temp/XP groups (P < 0.05). Ultrasonic activation removed the volume of Bio C Temp from the cervical third to similar levels of the middle and apical thirds (P > 0.05). In the cervical third, the Bio C Temp/XP, Bio C Temp/M group obtained a greater volume of remaining material than Bio C Temp/US, Ultracal/M, Ultracal/XP, and Ultracal/US (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study, the activation methods of intracanal medications did not differ in the removal capacity between the two types of root canal dressing and none of the removal protocols were able to completely remove dressings from the root canal.