Root canal treatment using active oxygen

―Study on smear layer after root canal irrigation by Cu²⁺/H₂O₂―

Abstract

Abstract : Usually, NaClO and H₂O₂ are used for root canal irrigation in Endodontic therapy. When CuCl₂ was added to H₂O₂, hydroxyl radical, the most destructive active oxygen, was generated. Hydroxyl radical generated from CuCl₂ and H₂O₂ mixture has bactericidal effect. We studied the effect of CuCl₂ and H₂O₂ mixture on smear layer using SEM. When the sample bearing smear layer on root canal was immersed in CuCl₂ and H₂O₂ mixture, smer layer was not removed. After washing the root canal, smear layer’s substance changed to hyaloid structure. This hyaloid structure was not removed by NaClO, but by EDTA. After removal of hyaloid structure by EDTA, dentinal plug like substances were observed in the dentinal tubules.