Effects of various irrigating solutions on the cleaning of the root canal with ultrasonic instrumentation.

The authors studied, in vitro, by light microscopy and by morphometric analysis, the cleaning capacity of Dakin's solution, water and Tergentol, when used as auxiliary solutions to ultrasonic instrumentation of root canals. After irrigation and instrumentation, 15 extracted human mandibular incisors, with a single root and with only one canal, were submitted to routine histological processing with serial 6-microns sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The results showed that Dakin's solution energized by ultrasound leaves root canals with less debris than Tergentol; water falls into an intermediate position. The apical third showed more debris than the middle third, and none of the irrigating solutions left the root canals free of debris.