Summary Review/Endodontics
Evidence-Based Dentistry (2007) 8, 5–6. doi:10.1038/sj.ebd.6400509
Root canal irrigation — which method?
Is passive ultrasonic irrigation more effective than syringe irrigation in cleaning the root canal?
Address for correspondence: LWM van der Sluis, Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam ACTA, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: l.vd.sluis@acta.nl
Khaled Balto1
1Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
van der Sluis LW, Versluis M, Wu MK, Wesselink PR. Passive ultrasonic irrigation of the root canal: a review of the literature. Int Endod J 2007; 40:415–26
Abstract
Data sources
Medline and reference lists of relevant articles were consulted.
Study selection
Papers were quality assessed by two reviewers: only those addressing passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) were included in the review.
Data extraction and synthesis
A qualitative synthesis describing the mechanism and effects of PUI is described.
Results
Fifty-four papers were included in the review and a qualitative summary of the findings presented.
Conclusions
PUI appears to be a possible adjunctive treatment for cleaning the root canal system and may be more effective than syringe irrigation. More research is needed to clarify the underlying physical mechanisms through which PUI works.
