Evaluation of Dentinal Microcracks following Diode Laser- and Ultrasonic-Activated Removal of Bioceramic Material during Root Canal Retreatment

Abstract

This study is aimed at evaluating the use of microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis and the dentinal microcrack formation following retreatment of bioceramic sealer employing adjunct laser-activated irrigation and ultrasonic-activated irrigation. Thirty sound human single-canal teeth (n = 30) obturated using the single-cone technique with bioceramic sealer were retreated using nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary files. The sample was randomly divided into three equal groups: group 1, the control group, was not subjected to further treatment; group 2 underwent ultrasonic activation of irrigants; group 3 underwent active irrigation with a diode laser (980 nm wavelength). Using micro-CT, the teeth were scanned before and after retreatment protocols. Two calibrated experienced observers viewed the cross-sectional images and calculated the number of dentinal defects. The presence of any crack or craze line on the external root surface or internal canal wall was counted. Data were analyzed using Friedman's two-way analysis of variance and Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. A significant increase occurred in the number of cracks post retreatment protocols, specifically in the coronal and middle canal thirds, compared to pre- and postinstrumentation (p = 0.0001). However, ultrasonic- or laser-activated irrigation did not result in a significant increase in the number of cracks (p = 0.345). NiTi rotary root canal retreatment was associated with a significant increase in dentinal microcracks. However, employing ultrasonic- or laser-activated irrigation as adjunct retreatment techniques did not reveal a significant increase in dentinal microcracks within the roots.