Irrigants in endodontics: which and how to use

Considering that mechanical root canal’s instrumentation is not enough to reach and debride all the dentin walls, the use of auxiliary chemical substances as irrigants become essential during the endodontic treatment. The choice of a main irrigant must consider its properties, advantages and disadvantages. An irrigant with ideal properties has not yet been established, but substances that have a good risk-benefit ratio are easily found on the market. Sodium hypochlorite solution or chlorhexidine can be used for this purpose; however irrigation must be performed properly to avoid accidents with serious consequences for the patient. After chemical and mechanical preparation, removal of the smear layer by a chelating substance is also recommended. The association of substances requires attention to avoid the formation of unwanted precipitates. Adjuvants to optimize the action of irrigants are available to clinicians, allowing to obtain more predictable results for endodontic treatment.