Accumulated Hard-tissue Debris Removal Using Different Ultrasonic Power Settings: A Micro-CT Study

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of the Irrisonic Power ultrasonic tip activated at different power settings (10 and 30%) on the removal of accumulated hard-tissue debris (AHTD) from mandibular premolars using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Materials and Methods A total of 20 extracted mandibular premolars were pair-matched based on root canal morphology using micro-CT imaging. All specimens were prepared with Reciproc R25 and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n ¼ 10) according to the power setting used during final irrigation: Irrisonic Power 10% or Irrisonic Power 30%. Supplementary irrigation was performed with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA. AHTD was quantified pre- and post-irrigation using standardized micro-CT analysis and ImageJ software. Statistical Analysis Data were statistically analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test (α ¼ 0.05). Results Both protocols significantly reduced AHTD after supplementary irrigation. The Irrisonic Power 30% group exhibited lower residual debris (0.16 ∓ 0.13%) than the Irrisonic Power 10% group (0.90 ∓ 1.16%), with a statistically significant difference (ρ < 0.05). Conclusion Supplementary irrigation with the Irrisonic ultrasonic tip at 30% power was more effective in removing AHTD than the 10% power setting.