Effect of PIPS technique at different power settings on irrigating solution extrusion

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) technique at different power settings on extrusion of irrigating solution. Root canal preparation was performed up to a #30 file on 64 extracted single-rooted mandibular premolar teeth, which were then divided into four groups. Each group was irrigated with one of the following irrigation methods: (a) irrigation with conventional irrigation open-ended needles, (b) continuous ultrasonic irrigation, (c) 0.3 W PIPS, or (d) 0.9 W PIPS. Apical extrusion of irrigating solution was evaluated using a modified model. The net weight of the extruded irrigating solution was measured for each group, and the resulting data were analysed statistically using Kruskal-Wallis at a 95 % confidence level (P < 0.05). Although the 0.9 W PIPS group resulted in the largest quantity of irrigation solution, the ultrasonic group was the smallest. However, the difference between these groups was not statistically significant at the 95 % level of confidence (P > 0.05). PIPS at both 0.3 W and 0.9 W resulted similar solution extrusion to the conventional irrigation or ultrasonic irrigation.