Effectiveness of conventional syringe irrigation, vibringe, and passive ultrasonic irrigation performed with different irrigation regimes in removing triple antibiotic paste from simulated root canal irregularities

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy of a sonic device (Vibringe), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and conventional syringe irrigation (CSI) in the removal of triple antibiotic paste (TAP) from artificial standardized grooves in the apical and coronal thirds of a root canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred eighteen root canals were prepared using the ProTaper system. The roots were split longitudinally, and a standardized groove was prepared in the apical and coronal parts of one segment. The grooves were filled with TAP, and the roots were reassembled. The roots were randomly divided into nine experimental groups and two control groups, according to the following irrigation methods: (1) CSI with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) + ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), (2) CSI/EDTA, (3) CSI/NaOCl, (4) PUI/NaOCl + EDTA, (5) PUI/EDTA, (6) PUI/NaOCl, (7) Vibringe/NaOCl + EDTA, (8) Vibringe/EDTA, and (9) Vibringe/NaOCl. The amount of remaining medicament was evaluated under a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: In the apical third, Vibringe/NaOCl + EDTA and PUI/NaOCl + EDTA were superior to the other groups (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the other experimental groups (P > 0.05). In the coronal third, there was no significant difference between the experimental groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the NaOCl/EDTA combination together with sonic or ultrasonic agitation improved the removal of TAP from the apical third.