Impact of Root Canal Disinfection on Treatment Outcome

Disinfection of the root canal system and its general effect on endodontic outcomes is a complex issue, parts of which have been studied widely, but its specific effect is not well documented in clinical trials with high levels of clinical evidence. This chapter addresses some of the information that exists for the disinfection of root canal systems, using what evidence is known in the literature to predict outcomes. Irrigation is one of the most important steps in endodontic therapy. It carries out many functions including tissue dissolution, lavage, killing of microorganisms, removal of debris, lubrication of the canal for instrumentation, and smear layer removal. The most widely used irrigating solutions are sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine, and iodine potassium iodide; and the solution most widely used as a chelating agent for irrigation and for the removal of the inorganic portion of the smear layer is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).