A SEM/EDS evaluation of debris removal of used rotary Ni-Ti endodontic files by four different cleaning solutions.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies levels of four cleaning solutions for removing debris from rotary Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) endodontic instruments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve instruments that fractured during ex vivo instrumentation were used. Fractured surfaces were investigated by SEM before and after 3, 6 and 9 min of ultrasonic cleaning in 17 % EDTA.3NaOH (Group A), 2.5 % NaOCl (Group B), Dentasept 3H Rapide (Group C) and ZymeX™ (Group D) solutions. EDS analyses of selected files from all four groups of untreated and ultrasonically cleaned samples were performed to assess the elemental composition of the alloy surfaces.

RESULTS

SEM analysis revealed that after 9 min of ultrasonic agitation, all four investigated solutions had cleaned fractured surfaces. However, some low-atomic-number regions exhibited random distributions on the fractured surfaces. EDS analyses indicated that only C was retained on surface after 9 min of ultrasonic cleaning. This finding was common in all tested groups.

CONCLUSIONS

All four investigated solutions substantially removed debris from the surfaces of the Ni-Ti files and were considered appropriate for clinical practice.