AN IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF THE IRRIGATING CHARACTERISTICS OF ULTRASONIC AND SUBSONIC HANDPIECES AND IRRIGATING NEEDLES AND PROBES

The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of a variety of endodontic irrigating devices. This study utilized plastic blocks with artificial canals to simulate the clinical setting, The c anals were instrumented, and red food dye was introduced into each can al. The blocks were placed in a jig to simulate maxillary and mandibul ar arch orientation. irrigation was performed with: (a) B-D 22-gauge n eedle; (b) Monoject Endodontic Needle 23 and 27 gauge; (c) Max-i-Probe 25-, 28-, and 30-gauge probes; (d) Cavi-Endo ultrasonic handpiece; an d (e) Micromega 1500 subsonic handpiece. A Sony Camcorder was used to record the effect of irrigation on the simulated canal contents. Tape review enabled the investigators to observe dye clearance effected by each modality, The Max-i-Probe probes were the most effective instrume nt used to clear dye from the simulated canals in both the mandibular and maxillary positions.