To Evaluate the Efficacy of New Brush Covered Irrigation Needle in Removing Root Canal Debris In Vitro: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study

Objective: The main purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of NaviTip and NaviTip FX in debriding the walls of the canals using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The secondary purpose of the study was to evaluate if use of 17 % EDTA along with 5.25% NaOCl had an additional effect in root canal debridement. Material and Methods: Access cavity preparations were performed in 40 extracted incisor teeth. All the teeth were randomly allotted to any of 4 groups consisting of 10 teeth- Group 1: Irrigation with 1ml of 5.25% NaOCl with NaviTip needle after each instrumentation; Group 2: Irrigation with 1ml of 5.25% NaOCl using NaviTip FX with a manual left and right rotary motion combined with up and down motions, and a brushing action on dentin walls after each instrumentation; Group 3: Irrigation with 1ml of 5.25% NaOCl followed by 1ml of 17%EDTA with NaviTip needle after each instrumentation; Group 4: Irrigation with 1ml of 5.25% NaOCl followed by 1ml of 17%EDTA using NaviTip FX with a manual left and right rotary motion combined with up and down motion, and a brushing action on dentin walls after each instrumentation. Later each selected sample was further split horizontally into three halves as coronal (10mm from apex), middle (5mm from apex) and apical (1mm from apex) thirds and treated with sputter-coated withgold using fine-coat ion sputter JFC-1100. Samples were analyzedfinally by SEM analysis. Result: All the groups showed significantly lesser smear layer at 10mm when compared to 5mm and 1mm. Further, it signifies that NaviTip FX (Group 4) when used along with 5.25% NaOCL and 17% EDTA removed more debris as compared to Group 1 and 2 at 10mmand 5mm; and removed more debris at 1mm compared to Group 3. Conclusion: Navi Tip could be replaced by Navi Tip FX for the purpose of cleaning and removal of smear layer. EDTA, which is considered as one of the best irrigants for removal dentinal debris may be ineffective in some narrower canals and could be adjuncted with manual irrigation devices such as Navi Tip FX to improve its action