UBC Theses and Dissertations

UBC Theses Logo

UBC Theses and Dissertations

Effects of irrigation and agitation on apical vapor lock : an ex-vivo study Farmand, Parisa

Abstract

Objectives: 1- To detect the presence of apical vapor lock after positive pressure irrigation at two needle insertion depths. 2- To evaluate the elimination of apical vapor lock by manual dynamic agitation. 3- To investigate the replacement of the contrast solution with sodium hypochlorite at two needle insertion depths and flow rates. Methodology: Twenty-eight single rooted teeth were shaped with either Vortex Blue 25/04 or ProTaper Gold F2 (25/08) rotary files. Presence of apical vapor lock was detected radiograph-ically using a contrast mixture (sodium hypochlorite & cesium chloride) as the irrigant. Manual dynamic agitation with 50 strokes of a well fitting gutta percha cone was performed in teeth with apical vapor lock. Its elimination was then evaluated radiographically. In teeth in which apical vapor lock was eliminated, replacement of the contrast solution with sodium hypochlorite was assessed radiographically. Each tooth was then shaped with Vortex Blue 30/04 or ProTaper Gold F3 (30/09) rotary files and the aforementioned experiments were repeated. Results: Apical vapor lock was detected in 92.0% of the samples. Manual dynamic agitation eliminated the apical vapor lock in 81.6% of the teeth. Apical vapor lock was more likely to be present and eliminated in teeth that were shaped with ProTaper Gold rotary files. Increase in the flow rate, increase in the needle insertion depth, shaping with Vortex Blue rotary files and small-er apical preparation size improved the replacement of the contrast solution. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, shaping with ProTaper Gold rotary files has a joint effect in the formation and elimination of apical vapor lock. Replacement of the contrast solution with sodium hypochlorite was affected by the independent effects of needle insertion depth and flow rate and the joint effect of needle insertion depth, flow rate, rotary file system and apical size preparation.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International