Evaluation of the Effect of Needle Tilting Angle on Irrigant Flow in the Root Canal Using Side-Vented Needle by an Unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

Abstract

Aim: The Irrigant flow dynamics has strong influence on the root canal cleaning effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of needle tilting angle on irrigant flow inside a prepared root canal during final irrigation with a side-vented needle using a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. Methodology: To analyze the irrigant flow a CFD model with tilting angles of 0 and 2 degrees was created. The irrigant flow in the apical root canal was simulated. Computations were carried out for two selected flow rates of 0.26 and 0.78 mL/s to evaluate the velocity and turbulence quantities along the solution domain. Results: In addition to velocity and pressure distribution at the apex, wall shear stress distribution, vorticity and turbulent intensity results were obtained for needle tilting angle of 0 and 2 degrees. In the case of turbulent flows where the flow rate was higher, irrigation is better; however, higher apical pressures were observed for both tilting angles. Although the effect of tilting angle of two degrees for laminar flow was slightly better than zero degrees, the effect of tilting was significant for the turbulent flow case. Wall shear stress distribution, vorticity and turbulent intensity results were consistent with each other. Conclusions: A small tilting angle of 2 degrees had an effect on irrigation effectiveness which could be clearly observed from the wall shear stress, vorticity and velocity distribution results. The velocity distribution results obtained at the symmetry plane should be evaluated with the wall shear stress values together to observe the complete fluid dynamics structure inside the root canal.  How to cite this article: Adiguzel O, Gokcen MG, Olcay AB. Evaluation of the Effect of Needle Tilting Angle on Irrigant Flow in the Root Canal Using Side-Vented Needle by an Unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics Model. Int Dent Res 2016;6:1-8.  Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.