Micro-CT comparison of XP-endo Finisher and passive ultrasonic irrigation as final irrigation protocols on the removal of accumulated hard-tissue debris from oval shaped-canals.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the XP-endo Finisher instrument and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) as final irrigation protocols on the removal of accumulated hard-tissue debris (AHTD) from oval-shaped canals using micro-computed tomographic (micro-CT) analysis. METHODS: Twenty mandibular incisors were anatomically pair-matched based on similar morphological dimensions (length, volume, aspect ratio, and configuration) through micro-CT analysis, prepared with Reciproc R25 instrument, scanned again, and assigned to one of the two experimental groups (n = 10), according to the final irrigation protocol: XP-endo Finisher and PUI. After the final irrigation protocols, the specimens were rescanned and the registered datasets were examined to quantify the amount of AHTD. Data were statistically analyzed using Student's t test with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The final irrigation protocols were highly similar in terms of volumetric percentage reduction of AHTD (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: XP-endo Finisher and PUI showed the same effectiveness on the removal of AHTD. None of the tested final irrigation protocols completely removed the AHTD from oval-shaped root canals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AHTD may be considered clinically relevant because it could harbor bacterial contents away from the disinfection procedures. Both final irrigation protocols were effective on the removal of AHTD.