Asaad Javaid Mirza^1,, Maaz Asad Javaid¹, Mohsin Nazi¹, Shaheen AbuBaker¹, Mohammad Khalid Shafiq¹

Objective: To compare antibacterial efficacy of various root canal irrigants against self-inducted streptococci in purposely sterilized root canals. Material and Method: Sixty (60) extracted mandibular & maxillary molars were collected and stored in saline at ambient temperature. The teeth were deroofed & their wider canals (distal canal in mandibular & palatal canal in maxillary molars) were selected for preparation. Working lengths of specimens was recorded by inserting K file# 20into the canals. All teeth were washed thoroughly with normal saline& autoclaved. Apical widening of canals was done using K-file # 30 with a step back technique. Streptococci were inducted in the sterile canals and their colonies were counted. Result: There was apparent difference in the antibacterial efficiency between 1% NaOCl, 0.12% chlorhexidine, 1% Povidone Iodine, NaCl, NaOCl with NaCl as final rinse NaOCl with 0.12% chlorhexidine as final rinse. The best results were achieved with 1 % NaOCl with Chlorhexidine as final irrigant. Conclusion: 1% NaOCl can be safely used by undergraduate dental students as main root canal irrigant with 0.12 % chlorhexidine as a final rinse.

irrigating solution for RCT, intracanal medication, NaOCl in endodontics, root canal irrigants