Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

School of Dentistry

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Michael D. Bagby.

Abstract

The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the influence of the side vent length on flexural fatigue and subsequent failure of three endodontic irrigating needles. Twenty ProRinse Endodontic Irrigation Probes, twenty-three Max-i-Probes, and twenty Vista-Probe Irrigating Tips were used in this study. All three irrigating needles are 30-gauge, have a side-vented port, and are safe-ended. After all side vent lengths were measured and recorded, each needle was subjected to flexing cycles of 30° until flexural fatigue occurred and the instrument permanently failed. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. Results indicate the Vista-Probe required a significantly greater number of cycles to produce flexural fatigue as compared to the ProRinse and Max-i-Probe irrigating probes (p < .0001). However, the length of the side vent as it relates to flexural fatigue within each individual needle group did not appear to be statistically significant (p > .05).

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