Ultrasonic Surgical-Tips' and Power-Settings' Effects  on Root-end Fillings' Marginal Adaptation

Methods:

Ninety extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected for this study. The coronal parts of the teeth were removed and the root canals were instrumented with a crown-down technique using ProTaper rotary files up to file F3 at the working length. The root canals were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution after each instrument. A final rinse with 3 ml of 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA and distilled water was performed to remove the smear layer. The root canals were filled with ProTaper F3 gutta-percha and AH Plus root canal sealer using a single-cone technique. The specimens were stored at 37°C and 100% humidity for 7 days. The apical 3 mm of each root was resected using fissure bur in a high-speed hand pieces with continuous water spray. The roots were divided into six experimental groups 15 teeth each. Root-end cavities were prepared with diamond coated ultrasonic surgical tip at half power and high power settings, zirconium nitride coated ultrasonic surgical tip at half power and high power settings, stainless steel ultrasonic surgical tip at half power and high power settings. Root-end cavities were filled Super-EBA regular set. Marginal adaptation of root-end filling was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The results were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Hollander-Wolfe tests (P>0.01).

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences between the test groups on marginal adaptation of root-end filling.

Conclusions:

It was concluded that diamond coated ultrasonic surgical tip, zirconium nitride coated ultrasonic surgical tip and stainless steel ultrasonic surgical tip have similar effects on marginal adaptation at half and high power settings.