This study evaluated the effectiveness of NiTi ultrasonic tips for Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilm removal in simulated complex root canals. Sixty root canal models consisting of a 30-degree curved main canal and two lateral canals were constructed from polydimethylsiloxane and incubated with E. faecalis. Irrigants in root canals were activated using a manual syringe (SI), a stainless steel (SS) instrument, a nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) ultrasonic instrument, or a sonic instrument (EA). Instruments of SI, SS, and NiTi-9 groups were placed 9 mm from the apex, whereas those in NiTi-2 and EA groups were placed 2 mm from the apex. The efficacy of each method was determined as the ratio of fluorescence concentration before and after activation. In the apical curved canal, the highest efficacy was found in the NiTi-2 group (99.40%), followed by SI (84.25%), EA (80.38%), SS (76.93%), and NiTi-9 (67.29%) groups. In lateral canals 1 and 2, the efficacy was the highest in the NiTi-2 group and the lowest in the SI group. The NiTi ultrasonic instrument could effectively remove biofilms in the curved canal and lateral canals. This instrument should be introduced close to the working length. An up-and-down motion of the activation instrument is recommended.
Keywords: biofilm; nickel titanium; polydimethylsiloxane; root canal; ultrasonic.