Scanning Electron Microscopy Studies of Root Canal Dentin Irrigated with a Chitosan-Citrate Solution: A Preliminary Report

The success of endodontic treatment depends on thorough cleaning and shaping of the root canal system. In recent years, attention has focused on the role of chitosan instead of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a complexing agent in root canal irrigation. In this in vitro study, dentin samples from the root canal were irrigated with varying concentrations of a chitosan-citrate solution. All the samples were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the smear layer covering the dental surfaces at the coronal, middle and apical root canal levels was evaluated. The results demonstrated that a 0.6 % solution of chitosan in 1 % citric acid was very effective at removing the smear layer.