Answering Questions About the Irrigation Protocol
May 13, 2021
Dr. Rodrigo Cunha
Endodontist, Winnipeg MA
In this episode of CDA Oasis Live, Dr. Rodrigo Cunha talks to Dr. John O’Keefe about irrigation protocols in root canal treatment.
In this seven-minute conversation, the endodontist from Winnipeg MA gives considerable insight into the types of irrigants he uses, the duration of irrigation, and how best to activate the irrigant in the canal.
Here are the key takeaways from the conversation…
- Use two solutions:
- The main solution is Sodium Hypochlorite – any concentration between 2.5% and 5%
- Also use EDTA as second last irrigation to remove the smear layer and then irrigate one more time with sodium hypochlorite so as to get maximum efficiency.
- Use a syringe and a small needle.
- Try to get as close to 3mm short of working length possible in order to deliver the irrigant all the way down to the apical portion.
- Constantly activate both EDTA and Sodium Hypochlorite inside the canal during treatment. Between 10-15 seconds sonic or ultrasonic activation several times during the procedure in order to push the irrigant into areas of microanatomy where the file won’t reach.
- Though there are insufficient studies to determine the ideal time for irrigation, we do know that the longer you keep the irrigant inside the canal the better - anything between 40 and 60mins, which is typically the duration of the procedure.
We hope you find the conversation useful. We welcome your thoughts, questions and/or suggestions about this post and other topics. Leave a comment in the box below or send us your feedback by email.
Until next time!
CDA Oasis Team
Hello, I have observed on occasion when placing the master cone in a canal with sealer that the pt. feels discomfort because of a slight bit of sealer exiting the canal, so by trying in your master cone in a NaClO flooded canal do you risk hydraulically forcing some out of the apex?