A novel noninstrumented technique for cleansing the root canal system.

The aim of this study was to develop a machine to clean root canals without conventional instruments. This goal was achieved with a device which was able to develop controlled cavitation in the root canal. Under reduced pressure, alternating pressure fields generated microscopic and macroscopic cavitation bubbles. Subsequently, these vapor-filled cavitation bubbles collapsed, creating hydrodynamic turbulence. These two phenomena allowed the irrigant to penetrate the canal system and then be exchanged with new irrigant. To test the cleaning ability of the device 79 freshly extracted vital molars with 222 root canals were collected. The control group (27 molars, 73 canals) was prepared with the step-back technique using NaOCl (3%) as an irrigant. The three test groups (52 molars, 149 canals) were prepared with the new machine using NaOCl (1, 2, or 3%). The treatment time ranged from 16 to 32 min in the hand group and from 10 to 15 min in the machine groups. The teeth were then prepared histologically and examined by light microscopy. Overall, the treatment with NaOCl (2 and 3%) resulted in similar or better cleanliness in all three root sections when comparing machine and hand instrumentation. In curved canals, however, the apical one third was also significantly cleaner when using the machine and 3% NaOCl than with hand instrumentation. This in vitro study shows that it is possible to clean a root canal system by a noninstrumented technique as well as by conventional hand instrumentation.