EFFECTIVENESS OF THREE DIFFERENT APPLICATION TIMES OF 17% EDTA AND 7% MALEIC ACID IRRIGATION AGENTS ON THE REMOVAL OF DEBRIS AND SMEAR LAYER: A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY

SADULLAH KAYA, ÖZKAN ADIGÜZEL, İBRAHİM UYSAL, SELENGÜL GANİDAĞLI AYAZ

International Dental Research - 2011;1(2):48-54

Dicle University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, Diyarbakır, TURKEY

 

Aim: This study compared smear-layer and debris removal using with three different application times of 17% EDTA and 7% maleic acid irrigation agents. Methodology: Fifty-two maxillary and mandibular single-rooted teeth were divided randomly into seven groups (n = 8 each, control group n = 4). Three groups received 17% EDTA and three received maleic acid (1, 5, 10 min). Canals were prepared using nickel-titanium rotary files. Smear-layer and debris removal were evaluated in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the teeth using scanning electron microscopy, and results were analyzed compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Maleic acid removed the smear layer (coronal and middle: p<0.01; apical: p<0.05) and debris (all p< 0.05) more effectively than EDTA in terms of 1 min application period. Effectiveness did not differ significantly with 10-min applications. Conclusions: Final irrigation with 7% maleic acid is more efficient than 17%EDTA in the removal of smear layer and debris from the coronal, middle and apical third of the root canal system in application within 1 min.