RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate endodontic irrigation methods with EndoVac(R) and EndoActivator(R) in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis from the root canals. Extracted 70 human single-rooted teeth were used. The canals were instrumented by a crown-down technique with .04 taper ProFile to ISO size 40. After the teeth were autoclaved, the canals were inoculated with E. faecalis and incubated for 48 h. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups of 20 teeth each according to canal irrigation methods and two control groups as follows: group 1 - EndoVac(R) group 2 - EndoActivator(R) ; group 3 - Conventional needle irrigation method. After canal irrigation using 2.5% NaOCl, first samples (S1) were taken using sterile paper point. And the canals were filled with sterile brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and incubated for 24 h, then second samples (S2) were taken. The samples were cultured on BHI agar plate to determine the numbers of colony forming units (CFU). In first sampling (S1), only one canal of conventional method among the all experimental groups was positive cultured. In second sampling (S2), EndoVac(R) group showed the least positive culture numbers of E. faecalis. There was statistically significant difference between the EndoVac(R) and conventional needle irrigation methods in the mean value of Log CFU. According to the results of this study, EndoVac(R) showed better efficacy than conventional needle irrigation method in the elimination of E. faecalis from the root canal.