Objective: To compare the ability to eliminate debris and open dentinal tubules of different ultrasound irrigation
procedures.
Study Design: Forty extracted single-rooted human teeth were instrumented with mechanical rotatory instrumentation,
and divided into four groups: (n=10) according to the final irrigation technique: group A (control), 2.5%
NaOCl irrigation with the Miraject needle and no ultrasonic agitation; group B, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI)
with 2.5% NaOCl and Irrisafe 20 tips; group C, PUI with 2.5% NaOCl and Irrisafe 25 tips; group D, PUI with
2.5% NaOCl and K 25 tips. The amount of debris and the number of opened dentinal tubules was established by
scanning electronic microscope. Data were compared using the Kruskal Wallis test.
Results: Irrisafe tips (groups B and C) opened up more dentinal tubules and eliminated more debris than conventional
irrigation (p<0.05) in the apical third. The middle third shows no significant differences between groups. Irrisafe
25 was more effective than conventional irrigation and K tips (p<0.05) in the coronal third.
Conclusions: Ultrasonic activation of the irrigation with Irrisafe tips was the most effective procedure for eliminating
the debris and opening up dentinal tubules, especially in the apical third
