Soft tissue dissolution capacity of currently used and potential endodontic irrigants

Necrotic soft-tissue remnants in root canals may provide a source of nutrition for surviving microbiota after root-canal therapy. This study assessed the necrotic tissue dissolution capacity of some popular and some potential root-canal irrigants: 1% (wt/vol) sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 10% chlorhexidine, 3% and 30% hydrogen peroxide, 10% peracetic acid, 5% dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), and 10% citric acid. Standardized necrotic tissue samples obtained from pig palates were incubated in these solutions, and their weight loss was measured over time. None of the test solutions except sodium hypochlorite had any substantial tissue dissolution capacity. It was concluded that this might be important when considering the use of irrigants other than NaOCl.