Effect of irrigating solutions in endodontic therapy

The primary goal of endodontic therapy is the reduction or elimination of micro-organisms and their by-products from the root canal system. Although a number of instrumentation and irrigation techniques exist, debris is often left behind in the root canal system, therefore proper canal cleaning, shaping and irrigation is essential to significantly reduce and sometimes eliminate bacteria from canals. However, complete elimination of bacteria is not always achieved in clinical practice due to the anatomical complexities of root canals and consequent limitations of access by instruments and irrigators, the use of antimicrobial medication has been advocated to disinfect the root canal system and because root tissues are closely related to the periodontal apparatus. The aim of this paper is to review current information on the topic of bacterial infection in endodontics with an emphasis on combined mechanical and chemical treatment of root canals. It focuses on available irrigation agents, provides their short overview, mechanism of action and possible unwanted side effects on periodontal tissues (Fig. 2, Ref. 19).