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Removal of accumulated hard tissue debris from mesial root of mandibular molars evaluated using micro-CT - a systematic review and network meta-analysis

A Correction to this article was published on 25 March 2022

Abstract

Aim The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to identify the best irrigant activation technique (IAT) for the removal of accumulated hard tissue debris (AHTD) from the mesial root of mandibular molars evaluated using micro-CT studies.

Methods The research question was based on the PICO format. Four electronic databases - PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science - were searched for articles up to June 2020. Selected articles were assessed for bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical appraisal tool. The network meta-analysis using a fixed-effects model and SUCRA ranking were performed. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the CINeMA framework.

Results Eleven studies were included for qualitative synthesis while seven were included for quantitative synthesis. The risk of bias of all included articles was low. The results based on SUCRA values revealed the IAT shock wave-enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (100%) resulted in the greatest reduction of the volume of AHTD from mesial roots of mandibular molars. Ranking of the other IATs was as follows: photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (87%), laser-activated irrigation (79.3%), XP EndoFinisher (71.2%), ultrasonically activated irrigation (59.6%), apical negative pressure (42.3%), EasyClean (37.4%), EDDY (26.2%), EndoActivator (24.2%), self-adjusting file (11.6%) and needle irrigation (11.3%).

Conclusion None of the IATs rendered the root canals completely free of AHTD. The laser-activated irrigation groups fared better than all other interventions in reducing AHTD from the mesial roots of mandibular molars. The confidence rating ranged from low to high for indirect evidence and moderate to high for mixed evidence. Results must be interpreted with caution due to the laboratory nature of the included studies.

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Velmurugan Natanasabapathy: conceptualisation; data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; project administration; resources; software; supervision; validation; visualisation; roles/writing - original draft; writing - review and editing. Buvaneshwari Arul: data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; project administration; supervision; validation; visualisation; writing - review and editing. Vignesh Srinivasan: data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; project administration; supervision; validation; visualisation; writing - review and editing. Sneha Susan Santosh: data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; visualisation; roles/writing - original draft; writing - review and editing. Aishwarya Vasudevan: data curation; formal analysis; investigation; methodology; visualisation; roles/writing - original draft; writing - review and editing. Selva Arockiam: methodology; resources; software; validation; visualisation. Ambalavanan Namasivayam: formal analysis; supervision; validation; writing - review and editing. Kandaswamy Deivanayagam: formal analysis; supervision; validation; writing - review and editing. M. R. Srinivasan: formal analysis; supervision; validation; writing - review and editing

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Correspondence to Velmurugan Natanasabapathy.

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Natanasabapathy, V., Arul, B., Srinivasan, V. et al. Removal of accumulated hard tissue debris from mesial root of mandibular molars evaluated using micro-CT - a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Evid Based Dent (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-021-0207-x

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