Effect of intracanal cryotherapy on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of intracanal cryotherapy on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth. Materials and methods: Sixty single-rooted maxillary lateral incisor teeth with single root canals were selected and randomly divided into two groups (n = 30). The specimens were immersed in distilled water, which was heated to 37 degrees C during the procedures. The root canals were chemomechanically prepared up to the apical size of 50 and assigned to either the control group or the cryotherapy group. The specimens in the cryotherapy group were irrigated with 20 mL sterile cold (2.5 degrees C) saline solution, which was delivered with an EndoVac system for 5 min, whereas the specimens in the control group received a sterile saline solution at room temperature. The fracture resistance of the specimens was then tested with a universal testing machine. The data was analyzed using the independent sample t test with a 5% significance threshold. Results: The fracture strength of the specimens in the intracanal cryotherapy group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: Application of intracanal cryotherapy as a final irrigant reduced the vertical fracture resistance of prepared roots when compared to the control group.