Irrigation Needle

It is a closed ended, flexible plastic needle with two ports located at 180⁰ from each other. Due to its flexibility and adaptability, the Irrigation Needle can go around curves with less resistance and greater ease.

We use full strength sodium hypochlorite (6% or 5.25% active) to assist in the removal of tissue and organic matter followed by rinsing with aqueous EDTA to aid in the removal of the inorganic portion of the smear layer. The Irrigation Needle is intended to be used in combination with sodium hypochlorite or EDTA or chlorhexidine solutions.

Such accidents happen rarely in endodontics and is something we all wish to avoid. It is not the canal size, but the placement and movement of the irrigation needle, volume/time delivery ratio of irrigation solution and failure to identify resorption and perforations prior to initiating irrigation protocols. Also, open ended needles deliver irrigation solution ahead of the needle tip and without backflow. This is one of the most likely scenarios leading to irrigation accidents. With slight needle movement and expression of the solution on the outstroke, irrigation accidents are easily avoided.

We know from clinical experience and dental anatomy literature that canal lengths, from orifice to apex, are between 9 - 12mm with a maximum length of 15mm (resulting in thirds of 3 - 4 or occasionally 5mm each). With a crown length of 10 - 12mm, most canals can be irrigated with relative ease.

Irrigation solutions such as sodium hypochlorite should have tissue contact times of 20 to 30mins to aid in the removal/digestion of tissue and disinfection.

Irrigation protocols recommend final use of bleach and EDTA in the range of 30 - 60s per canal.

It is important to have a light-handed delivery and ensure that irrigation solutions are not delivered with pressure or during needle engagement. Injecting solution with a needle wedged into the root canal raises the possibility for an irrigation accident. Therefore, we recommend advancing the needle apically in 2 - 3mm inward strokes and delivering the solution on a 1 - 2 mm outstroke to avoid pressure and permit backflow.

In order to place the 30G Irrigation Needle we recommend a minimum preparation size of ISO 25.

An open ended needle, while sending a flow apically more effectively is also much more dangerous regarding irrigation mishaps. A needle with lateral ports of exit offers a better safety margin.