Assessment of irrigant flow and apical pressure in simulated canals of single-rooted teeth with different root canal tapers and apical preparation sizes: An ex vivo study
Sindhu Ramesh, ImmadiLaxmi Sujith, Kavalipurapu Venkata Teja
Abstract
<br><b>Background : </b>Irrigation dynamics vary in optimally shaped canals. Various factors combine to create a stress-induced environment leading to a dynamic irrigant flow.<br><b>Aim : </b>The aim of the study is to evaluate the irrigant flow and apical pressure using 30G open-ended needle in virtually created root canal model of single-rooted teeth.<br><b>Materials and Methods : </b>Sixty extracted single-rooted premolars were selected and prepared using a single rotary instrument Hyflex CM and grouped as – Group I: 30 size 0.6% taper (<i>n</i> = 15), Group II: 30 size 0.4% taper (<i>n</i> = 15), Group III: 25 size 0.6% taper (<i>n</i> = 15), and Group IV: 25 size 0.4% taper (<i>n</i> = 15). Postinstrumentation imaging was carried out using cone-beam computed tomography, and computer-aided design models were obtained. Subgrouping was done based on the nozzle position, and computational fluid dynamic analysis was carried out for the respective parameters assessed.<br><b>Results : </b>Statistical significance was elicited in all the groups at different nozzle positions analyzed (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A <i>post hoc</i> test revealed significance in the mean flow rate and flow velocity in Group I at low nozzle position (<i>P</i> < 0.05) as compared to others.<br><b>Conclusions : </b>30 size 0.6% tapered preparations proved efficient irrigant flow and least apical pressures at all nozzle positions.<br>