Super-Oxidized Water against Conventional Irrigants in Smear Layer Removal using Endovac Irrigating System: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Background: The success of endodontic therapy is governed by qualitative instrumentation and meticulous cleaning of the root canal system with irrigants. An irrigant is indeed required to reach the optimum ideal requirements without any side effects. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of a commercially available super-oxidized water (OXUM) in the removal of the smear layer with the gold standard (5% Sodium Hypochlorite and 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)using the EndoVac irrigating system. Materials and Methods: 30 human extracted straight mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into three groups (n=10) based on the type of irrigant to be employed in the course of the root canal preparation. Group A: 5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA, Group B: Super-oxidized Water, and Group C: Saline (Control). The teeth were split longitudinally and investigated using Field- Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (Zeiss LEO 1530, Oberkochen, Germany) to analyze the amount of smear layer present. Torabinejad et al.'s criteria were used to score the images. Friedman test and Mann Whitney test were applied to identify if there is any significant difference among the values (P=<0.05). Results: The control group showed the highest smear layer scores. However, the difference between group A and group B was not statistically significant. Additionally, the smear layer was removed significantly even from the apical third of the root canal. Conclusion: Super-oxidized water (OXUM) proved to be an alternative to the conventional irrigants in the smear layer removal. EndoVac Irrigating System demonstrated enhanced smear layer removal in the apical third.