Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The efficiency of root canal irrigation has an important impact on the prognosis of root canal treatment. Photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) and shock wave enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS) are the special modality of Er: YAG laser, whether can they improve the efficiency of root canal irrigation remains to be studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty human teeth with curved root canals were collected and stored in the thymol solution until used in the study. After traditional endodontic cavities preparation, root canals were prepared to size #35 with a 0.04 taper. The final irrigating techniques were as follows: (I) manual dynamic activation (MDA), (II) ultrasonically activated irrigation (UAI), (III) sonically activated irrigation (SAI), (IV) PIPS, and (V) SWEEPS. Fifty teeth were randomly divided into five groups mentioned above. After root canal preparation, the roots were cleaved longitudinally. The dentine surfaces were photographed from the coronal, middle, and apical third of the root by scanning electron microscopy operated at a low vacuum. Two examiners separately graded each image according to the remained smear layer situations. RESULTS: PIPS and SWEEPS groups showed fewer smear layers remaining than the others in the middle and the apical third (P < 0.05) of the root canal. In contrast, in the coronal third, five groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PIPS and SWEEPS showed superior smear layer clearing efficiency than traditional irrigating techniques in curved root canals.