Research Article

The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules

Volume: 60 Number: 1 September 9, 2026

The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this ex vivo study was to investigate the effects of 5 distinct irrigant activation systems on bacterial colonization within dentinal tubules utilizing confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Materials and Methods

Sixty extracted human mandibular premolars with single canals were prepared using resiprocal instruments. The teeth were embedded in acrylic resin blocks and the root canals were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis. Root canals were irrigated using five different irrigant activation methods: standard needle irrigation, IrriFlex, EDDY, Endoactivator, and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI). Horizontal sections, 1 ± 0.1 mm in thickness, were obtained at distances of 2, 5 and 8 mm from the apical end of the teeth. Sections were visualized using a CLSM. The penetration depth of dead bacteria was measured to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the irrigant activation systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction.

Results

PUI showed significantly greater penetration depth of dead bacteria in both the coronal and apical thirds compared to the other experimental groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Although a statistically significant reduction in bacteria was observed in all experimental groups compared to the control, the canal disinfection was not complete in any of the groups. According to our results, standard needle irrigation had the lowest disinfection efficiency, while PUI demonstrated the highest among the evaluated activation methods.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Endodontics

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 9, 2026

Submission Date

September 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 60 Number: 1

APA
Mansuroğlu, Ş. S., Taşdemir, T., Dinçer, T., Buruk, K., Uzun, Ü., & Koşar, T. (2026). The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules. European Oral Research, 60(1), 291-297. https://doi.org/10.26650/eor.20261786885
AMA
1.Mansuroğlu ŞS, Taşdemir T, Dinçer T, Buruk K, Uzun Ü, Koşar T. The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules. EOR. 2026;60(1):291-297. doi:10.26650/eor.20261786885
Chicago
Mansuroğlu, Şeyba Sara, Tamer Taşdemir, Tuba Dinçer, Kurtuluş Buruk, Ümit Uzun, and Tuğba Koşar. 2026. “The Efficacy of Different Irrigant Activation Methods in the Elimination of Bacteria Colonizing in Dentin Tubules”. European Oral Research 60 (1): 291-97. https://doi.org/10.26650/eor.20261786885.
EndNote
Mansuroğlu ŞS, Taşdemir T, Dinçer T, Buruk K, Uzun Ü, Koşar T (September 1, 2026) The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules. European Oral Research 60 1 291–297.
IEEE
[1]Ş. S. Mansuroğlu, T. Taşdemir, T. Dinçer, K. Buruk, Ü. Uzun, and T. Koşar, “The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules”, EOR, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 291–297, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.26650/eor.20261786885.
ISNAD
Mansuroğlu, Şeyba Sara - Taşdemir, Tamer - Dinçer, Tuba - Buruk, Kurtuluş - Uzun, Ümit - Koşar, Tuğba. “The Efficacy of Different Irrigant Activation Methods in the Elimination of Bacteria Colonizing in Dentin Tubules”. European Oral Research 60/1 (September 1, 2026): 291-297. https://doi.org/10.26650/eor.20261786885.
JAMA
1.Mansuroğlu ŞS, Taşdemir T, Dinçer T, Buruk K, Uzun Ü, Koşar T. The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules. EOR. 2026;60:291–297.
MLA
Mansuroğlu, Şeyba Sara, et al. “The Efficacy of Different Irrigant Activation Methods in the Elimination of Bacteria Colonizing in Dentin Tubules”. European Oral Research, vol. 60, no. 1, Sept. 2026, pp. 291-7, doi:10.26650/eor.20261786885.
Vancouver
1.Şeyba Sara Mansuroğlu, Tamer Taşdemir, Tuba Dinçer, Kurtuluş Buruk, Ümit Uzun, Tuğba Koşar. The efficacy of different irrigant activation methods in the elimination of bacteria colonizing in dentin tubules. EOR. 2026 Sep. 1;60(1):291-7. doi:10.26650/eor.20261786885