Abstract

UPDATE ON ROOT CANAL IRRIGANTS

Ishita Panwar*, Hanisha Daabas, Katya Panday, Rashmita Parida, Himanshu Sharma, Manila Jain and Himanshu Thukral

ABSTRACT

Irrigation plays a pivotal role in the success of endodontic treatment in eradicating microbes and tissue material from the root canal system. There are currently a variety of differing protocols with regards to the irrigant selection and this review article covers the irrigants currently used and covers the associated evidence base for their usage. Sodium Hypochlorite is widely used as the most common irrigant in endodontics because of the tissue dissolving capability and also hypochlorite having an effective antimicrobial action. The action of Chlorhexidine has been reviewed as an alternative irrigant as it has a longer antimicrobial action due to its substantivity. However, the limitation of tissue solvent activity has meant its use is more common in retreatment cases. Chelating agents such as EDTA are now routinely used for removal of the smear layer and this article considers the literature on this and also to compare the combined regimens of endodontic irrigants with MTAD. Some alternative contemporary irrigants are also highlighted and discussed.

Keywords: Root Canal Irrigants; Endodontic Irrigants; Sodium Hypochlorite; Chlorhexidine; EDTA; MTAD.