• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.399-407
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• 1999

Apical extrusion of canal debris is occurred inadvertently during root canal preparation and this could produce interappointment discomfort or postinstrumentation pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of canal preparation methods on the apical extrusion of canal debris by means of comparing the amounts of apically extruded debris with several kinds of instrumentation methods. In the first experiment, 40 incisors were divided into four groups of 10 each. They were instrumented using one of the four techniques: Step-back, crown-down pressureless technique with stainless steel K-files, engine-driven instrumentation with Quantec series 2000, and Profile .04 taper series 29. Root canal irrigation was done with 2.52% sodium hypochlorite solution. In the second experiment, 80 incisors were divided into five groups of 16 each and instrumented using step-back, crown-down pressureless technique with stainless steel K-files, engine-driven instrumentation such as Quantec SC, Quantec LX, and Profile .04 taper series 29 No irrigation procedure was performed in this second experiment. Extruded debris from each tooth was collected in a container and weighed by the use of an electronic balance after desiccation. With or without canal irrigation, step-back technique produced significantly more amount of apical debris than the other groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among crown-down pressureless technique, engine-driven instrumentation with Quantec LX, Quantec SC, or Profile. Therefore, either by hand or engine-driven instrumentation, it is concluded that to minimize apical debris, techniques using reaming motion of files should be applied rather than filing motion.