title: Comparative analysis of endodontic smear layer removal efficacy of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 7% maleic acid, and 2% chlorhexidine using scanning electron microscope: An in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of different endodontic irrigants in the removal of smear layer through scanning electron microscopic image analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present in vitro study was carried out on 45 single-rooted extracted human mandibular premolar teeth with single canal and complete root formation. Teeth were randomly assigned to three groups with 15 teeth in each group. Group I samples were irrigated with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) irrigation, Group II with 7% maleic acid irrigation, and Group III with 2% chlorhexidine irrigation. Scanning electron microscope evaluation was done for the assessment of smear layer removal in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Comparison of the smear layer removal between the three different groups was done by Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Mann-Whitney U test for comparing individual groups. A P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant difference was seen between the two test groups (17% EDTA vs. 7% maleic acid and 17% EDTA vs. 2% chlorhexidine) in smear layer removal at coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the root canal. The most efficient smear layer removal was seen in Group I with 17% EDTA irrigation compared with other groups (P < 0.05) and the least by 2% chlorhexidine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that 17% EDTA efficiently removes the smear layer from root canal walls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital, Visnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Kailash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Attur
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Mathew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Riyas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Pedodontist, Private Practitioner, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Anil Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Sri Balaji Dental College, Moinabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deepika
authors.affiliation: Pedodontist, Private Practitioner, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Haseena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Chlorhexidine; EDTA; maleic acid; root canal irrigants; scanning electron microscope; smear layer