Bacteriological evaluation of passive ultrasonic activation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of passive ultrasonic activation on root canal disinfection. Sixty human teeth (group A: upper incisors, group B: upper canines, and group C: distobuccal root of first upper molars) were selected and sterilized in an autoclave. A standardized inoculum was placed into the canals, and they were incubated for 72 h at 37 degrees C. Then, they were divided into subgroup 1, which received sterile saline (SS) as an irrigant, and subgroup 2, which received sterile saline with passive ultrasonic activation (SU). The endodontic treatment was performed with a crown-down technique. Bacteriological identification of surviving colonies was carried out. Surviving colonies were higher when ultrasonics was not used (group A: SS: x 32.13, SU: x 13.53; group B: SS: x 53.70, SU: x 44.60; group C: SS: x 39.16, SU: x 29.40). The homogeneity proportion tests to compare the results of both subgroups showed that the surviving proportions were higher (p = 0.01) when the ultrasonic activation was not used.