What Is Root Canal Irrigation in Modern Endodontics?

What Is Root Canal Irrigation in Modern Endodontics?

Apr 01, 2023

Tooth decay is a worldwide issue that affects millions of smiles. It is also a leading cause of tooth loss and goes neck and neck with gum disease. Decay starts subtly, and it grows every day when it is untreated. The next thing you know, decay is in the inner part of the tooth. At this point, the pulp is infected, so your only option is to seek endodontics in Richmond Hill, NY.

The goal of endodontics (root canal therapy) is to remove the infected pulp and bacteria from the pulp chamber to ensure that the tooth remains intact. That’s where root canal irrigation comes in handy. It is a vital process in root canal therapy since it increases the chances of a successful procedure.

You must be curious to understand a thing or two about root canal irrigation. So, buckle your seatbelt, and let’s take a brief journey through the endodontic field.

Root Canal Irrigation, At a Glance

The root canal procedure is done to remove the infected pulp, and to do so, our dentist in Richmond Hill, NY, must drill a hole in the tooth to access the pulp. The next step is to remove the pulp. This is where root canal irrigation comes in.

Root canal irrigation is a chemo-mechanical process that ensures the pulp chamber is free of debris and bacteria. Root canal irrigation is an essential part of endodontic treatment. A successful endodontic irrigation procedure is facilitated by solutions that kill and removes microbes and expel inflamed and necrotic dentin debris.

But solutions aren’t the only things that are necessary for a successful procedure. Our dentist must also employ the proper and modern techniques and use advanced tools to help deliver the solutions and remove the debris.

In a nutshell, the functions of root canal irrigation are:

  • To remove dentin shavings from canals
  • To lubricate the canals to enable the tools to work properly since dry canals will lead to their breakage
  • To operate as a necrotic tissue solvent, thus removing germs, pulp tissue, and debris from uneven dentin walls
  • To assist in the clearance of debris from the lateral and auxiliary channels where the instruments are unable to reach
  • To whiten the discolored parts of the infected tooth

The Solutions Used During Root Canal Irrigation

Root canal therapy has been studied extensively over the decades. Therefore, you can rest easy knowing that whatever solution or solutions our dentist near you chooses will be the most effective and have fewer side effects.

Some of the solutions that are used during root canal irrigation are:

  • Normal saline
  • Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
  • Chlorhexidine digluconate
  • EDTA
  • Citric acid
  • Tetracycline isomer, acid, and detergent
  • Tetraclean
  • Superoxide water
  • Ozonated water

However, of all the above solutions, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a popular choice among most dentists. It is a favorite because it dissolves the pulp tissue, kills bacteria, and disrupts bacterial biofilms, which are resistant to antibiotics.

What Are the Methods of Root Canal Irrigation?

Endodontics is a century-old dental procedure. Therefore, there has been some significant evolution in the techniques, solutions, and methods used to deliver the irrigants.

The evolution of delivery methods makes the process more effective than ever before. This is because the supply method determines the efficacy and safety of endodontic irrigation.

The classical way of irrigating the root canal is using a needle and syringe. In this case, the dentist will use a 27-gauge or 30-gauge needle to access the apical canal. That’s not all! Apart from the size of the needle, there are side-vented and open-ended needles. Side-vented needles offer safer irrigation as compared to open-ended needles.

Agitation is also another effective method of root canal irrigation. There are two agitation procedures that our dentist near you can employ:

  • Manual – this is the traditional method of endodontic irrigation where syringes are moved up and down in the canal space. In this case, the irrigants can only go as far as the tip of the irrigation needle.
  • Rotary – in this method, water is continuously applied since it has two irrigation reservoirs and tubing to ensure that the instruments are irrigated at all times when they are rotating

New equipment such as EndoActivator, Vibringe, and various ultrasonic devices are now being used. Some devices, such as the EndoVac, use negative pressure to ensure safe irrigation. The use of EndoVac has been shown to improve the antimicrobial effect and cleanliness of the root canal.

The Bottomline

Irrigation and instrumentation are essential parts of root canal treatment. They remove necrotic tissue, bacteria, and dentinal debris, thus keeping the root canal clean.

Contact us at Caring Dentistry of Queens if you need more information.

Call Now Book Now
Click to listen highlighted text!