Abstract
AIMS: To compare amount of root canal debris and irrigant extruded apically after irrigants agitation using closed and open chambers. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Sixty maxillary central incisors were selected, decoronated, and mounted in preweighed glass vials filled with distilled water. Biomechanical preparation was completed using ProTaper rotary files until number F4 and 1 mL of 3% NaOCl solution after each file use. Samples were randomly divided into closed or open chamber sets which were further subdivided into 6 groups, based on the agitation techniques: no agitation (control), canalBrush, lentulospiral, passive ultrasonic agitation (PUA), EndoActivator, and EndoVac. Canals were irrigated with 1 mL of 17% EDTA and agitated for 30 s and then flushed with 2 mL of distilled water. Apically extruded irrigant was measured and vials were kept in incubator for 5 days at 68 °C for drying for weight calculation. Statistical Analysis. Analysis was done using Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc. RESULTS: All agitation techniques showed apical extrusion of the debris and irrigant. The closed chamber apparatus showed significantly less extrusion of debris and irrigant than open chamber (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EndoVac was found to be the safest agitation system among all test groups with regard to apical extrusion of debris and irrigant.