PENETRATION ABILITY OF DIFFERENT IRRIGANTS INTO DENTINAL TUBULES

Dentinal tubules of human root canal walls were infected with a known bacterial isolate, The teeth were divided into two groups and the root canals instrumentated, Different types of canal irrigant were used fo r each group, In group A, 5% NaOCl was followed by a 10% EDTA rinse an d neutralized with a final physiological solution rinse, In Group B, 1 0% EDTA, a tensioactive agent (TRITON), and 5% NaOCl were used in sequ ence, with a final physiological solution rinse to neutralize the acti on of the agents used, Histological examination of group A specimens s howed a residual area of infection extending from the canal lumen to a mean depth of 300 mu m. Histological examination of group B specimens showed an infection-free area of tubules to a mean depth of 130 mu m. Below this was an infected area of variable extent, In some group B s ections, no infection was found.