QUEIROZ, Mário Luiz Pinto de; OLIVEIRA, Elias Pandonor Motcy de; BORIN, Graziele    MELO, Tiago André Fontoura de. Efficacy of different techniques for cleaning endodontic instruments. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) []. 2010, 58, 3, pp. 369-373. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: This study used a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to evaluate, in vivo, the efficacy of six techniques used to clean endodontic instruments after use in root canals. METHODS: Fourteen upper incisor teeth with pulp necrosis and 96 Flexofile stainless steel instruments of the first series were used for this purpose. Electron micrographs of the instruments were analyzed by three specialists who scored the amount of residues present in their relevant parts. The results were statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Kruskall-Wallis test. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The results show that the methods brushing + ultrasound with enzyme detergent, ultrasound with enzyme detergent + brushing and ultrasound with saline + brushing were more effective. CONCLUSION: None of the techniques was capable of completely removing all the residues.

: endodontics; exposure to biological agents; infection; dental instruments.