The main purpose of an endodontic treatment is to eradicate the microorganisms, debris and necrotic tissue prevailing in the root canals and to provide effective cleaning and decontamination of the root canal system to avoid its re-contamination. ¹ Chemomechanical preparation plays a significant role in the endodontic treatment. ² The root canal at the apical region has a complex structure containing cul de sacs, lateral and accessary canals which makes the debridement of infected tissue from this area a challenging task. ³ Even after chemomechanical preparation using hand or rotary instruments, an average amount of 30-35% root canal area is left untouched and un-instrumented. Irrigating solutions do not reach this area and hence no proper cleaning of such areas leads to re-contamination and failure of the treatment. ⁴ The process of root canal cleaning and its shaping is established by biomechanical preparation and extensive irrigation using endodontic irrigants. ⁵ Chemo mechanical preparation using hand or rotary instruments produces a smear layer which is an uneven amorphous granular layer present on the root dentin containing both inorganic and organic contents like necrotic debris, odontoblastic processes, pulp tissue and microorganisms with their metabolic products. Although there is debate if the smear layer should be removed or kept, a recent meta-analysis and systematic review concluded that removing the smear layer improved the root canal system's fluid tight seal. ⁶ The smear layer has been demonstrated to be infected and protects the microorganisms present in the dentinal tubule and also inhibits the penetration of endodontic sealers and intracanal medicaments into the dentinal tubules which leads to some bacteria being left behind in the dentinal tubules which might later cause re-infection. ⁷

Irrigating solutions for endodontic treatment play a significant part in the success of the treatment. The process of instrumentation along with administration of the root canal irrigants, facilitates the elimination of microorganisms, smear layer, tissue fragments and necrotic debris present in the root canal completely by the flushing mechanism of action of the irrigants. ⁸ These irrigants have a benefit of reaching the accessory features and complex area such as lateral and accessory canals, and cul-de-sacs which are generally hard to access. Agitation and activation of the irrigants through lasers, sonics and ultrasonics are additional sources which help to improve the smear layer removal along with irrigants used for canal irrigation. ^{9 , 10} Passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) employs ultrasonic wave energy that is transmitted from a tip or file to the irrigant and produces cleaner canals. ¹¹ To eradicate the smear layer, endodontists have used various chelating chemicals such as ethylenediamineactetic acid (EDTA), phosphoric acid, maleic acid (MA), citric acid (CA) and etidronic acid. The use of demineralizing agents along with sodium hypochlorite irrigation has been suggested for active removal of smear layer for successful endodontic treatment. Ballal et al. ¹² in their research concluded that that final irrigation during biomechanical preparation with 7% MA for one min was more active in eradicating the smear layer when compared to 17% EDTA at the apical region of the root canal. Demirel et al. in their study revealed that irrigation with 6 % citric acid was more efficient compared to 10% EDTA for eradicating smear layer present in root canal dentin. ¹³

Since complete elimination of microorganisms from the endodontic space is unlikely, the antimicrobial activity of root canal sealers may help to remove residual microorganisms which remain unaffected by chemo mechanical preparation and irrigating solutions used for the root canal treatment. Vibha et al. conducted a study to assess the depth of penetration of sealer into dentinal tubules at the apical, middle and coronal third of root canals, and concluded that in the apical sections of CA and EDTA showed comparable sealer penetration and maximum sealer penetration was seen at the coronal portion. ¹⁴ To date, no comparative studies have been published that compare the smear layer removal and the penetration depth of Bio-ceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules present in the root canal.

The goal of this in vitro study is to use a Confocal LASER scanning microscope to compare the effect of saline, EDTA, MA, and CA solutions on removal of smear layer and to measure depth of penetration of Bio ceramic sealer (BioRoot ^tmRCS) into the dentinal tubules at the coronal, middle and apical third regions of the root canal. The null hypothesis tested is that there is no significant difference in smear layer and sealer penetration among saline, 7% MA, 10% CA and 17% EDTA when used as final irrigating solution.

The result of the present study concluded that the maximum depth of Bio-ceramic sealer penetration of all the groups were seen at the coronal third followed by middle and apical third of the root specimens examined ( Table 1).

The one way ANOVA shows a statistically significant difference between the groups and within the groups. Results showed statistical significance with the df 2; F value 2, P value- .000 ( Table 2). The results showed the saline group had a significantly lower depth of sealer penetration compared to the other groups in all the three sections of the root specimen (P < .05).

The results of the inter group analysis demonstrated that there was a significant statical difference seen in the depth of penetration of sealer between all irrigating solutions at the coronal, middle and apical third of the root specimen (P < .05). No statistically significant difference in the depth of bio- ceramic sealer penetration between EDTA, CA, MA at coronal third was observed. At the middle and apical regions, a statistically significant difference was seen in the depth of penetration of sealer between EDTA and CA and MA ( Table 3).

For intra group analysis, the post-hoc Tamhanes test results showed that there was a significant difference (P < .05) among all final irrigating solutions at different sections of the root specimen ( Table 4).

For EDTA, the maximum sealer penetration depth was seen at coronal third which had no statistically significant difference with CA and MA, suggesting that all the three irrigating solutions were similarly effective in removal of smear layer at coronal third.

At the middle and apical third, a statistically significant difference was seen between EDTA and CA and MA suggesting that CA and MA were more active than EDTA in removal of smear layer at middle third, and hence greater penetration of Bio-ceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules were seen with CA and MA.

No statistical difference was seen between CA and MA at middle third and apical third suggesting that both were similarly effective in removal of smear layer hence influenced the penetration of bio ceramic sealer in the dentinal tubules.

Figure 1 displays a representation of Confocal LASER scanning microscopic images from the Citric acid group (C: Coronal, M: Middle, A: Apical). Figure 2 displays a representation of Confocal LASER scanning microscopic images from the Saline group. Figure 3 displays a representation of Confocal LASER scanning microscopic images from the Maleic acid group, and Figure 4 displays a representation of Confocal LASER scanning microscopic images from the Eythenediamine tetracetic acid group.

The current study was done to evaluate the efficacy of 17 % EDTA, 10% CA, 7% MA and 0.9% physiological saline in the depth of penetration of bio ceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules of different sections of the root specimens. To date, not much evidence has been published for penetration depth of Bio-ceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules of root canal dentin. Hence, this study included a Bio-ceramic sealer as they set even in the presence of moisture not affecting its properties.

The literature shows that most irrigants used for irrigation along with biomechanical preparation are not effectively active against smear layer at all the sections of the root specimen, particularly at the apical region, which is vital in determining the prognosis of an endodontic treatment. The results of this study revealed that both 7% MA and 10% CA were equally effective in removing smear layer at middle and apical third. To facilitate a satisfactory cleaning and infiltration of irrigants into the dentinal tubules, the apical region of each specimen was enlarged until size 40 no K file. This was done in agreement with other studies that have concluded that a greater apical preparation allows a greater decrease in residual bacteria and aids in better smear layer removal as compared with smaller preparation. ^{19 , 20} Passive ultrasonic agitation was done to produce acoustic streaming to eliminate debris from the canal space and leave behind cleaner canals. Passive ultrasonic agitation when used in combination with conventional syringe irrigation produces clear canals. This is in agreement with earlier studies. ¹¹ The most important factors that affect the action of the irrigating solution are the concentration of the irrigant used and its contact time with the root canal dentin. The exact optimum contact time needed for the irrigant to be held in reserve in root canals for effective removal of smear layer is unclear. Studies have shown that EDTA reasonably removes the smear layer in one min, but it also produced extreme erosion of intertubular and peritubular dentin when it was applied for duration of more than 10 mins. ²¹ Ballal et al. ¹² in their study concluded that final irrigation for one min with 7% MA was effective at the apical third in smear layer removal. Therefore, the irrigation time of one min was kept for the irrigants used in this particular study.

The results of the present study revealed that 7% MA and 10% CA had greater depth of bio ceramic sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules suggesting they had a better capability for removing smear layer when compared to 17% EDTA in the apical and middle third regions of the root specimen. No statistically significant difference was seen in the depth of the Bio-ceramic sealer penetration between 7% MA and 10% CA at the middle and apical third suggesting that at apical third both the irrigants were equally effective in eliminating the smear layer. This result is in accordance with other studies. ^{22 , 23}

EDTA is a chelating solution which aids in the elimination of smear layer by facilitating the elimination of microorganisms present in the canal space, thereby improving the anti-microbial effect of disinfecting agents in further deeper layers of dentin. The consequence of EDTA on dentin totally depends on the total time it is in contact with dentin and also on the concentration of EDTA solution. Several previous studies resolved that irrigation in the endodontic treatment with EDTA appears to be a promising endodontic tool. ^{24 , 25} However, in our present study, the depth of sealer penetration into dentinal tubules with EDTA was lower at the middle and the apical third when compared to 7% MA and 10% CA suggesting it was less effective in removing the smear layer at these areas. Even after larger apical preparation, EDTA was less effective when compared with MA and CA to eliminate smear layer successfully. The reason could be the higher surface tension of 17% EDTA. A previous study concluded that surface tension of 7% MA is lower compared to 17% EDTA. ²⁶ Since EDTA is extremely active at a neutral pH and a decrease in pH over time is seen. Hence, its efficacy with time decreases as decrease in pH causes decrease in its effectiveness. ²⁶ Paque et al. ²¹ concluded that EDTA does not have a noticeable action in apical region of the root canal since the dentin present in this region is sclerosed. Goldberg et al. concluded that optimal results are obtained only after an application time of minimum 15 mins with EDTA, but in this study the application time was only one minute hence EDTA was not as effective removing smear at the apical third. ²⁷

Research done by Banode et al. ²⁸ presented that the final irrigation with citric acid showed better results compared to EDTA in removing the smear layer from the canal space. In this present study, 10% citric acid solution was used because of its biocompatibility in addition to its ability to eliminate microorganisms, infected tissue and inorganic smear layer present in the root canal dentin. This is in accordance with study done by Malheiros ²⁹ which concluded that 10–25% citric acid has better biocompatibility compared to 17% EDTA. The citric acid used was effective in all sections of the tooth. This result is in accordance with Schafer’s declaration that 1–40% citric acid can be used as an irrigant for endodontic treatment as citric acid is an organic acid which has the ability to demineralize the sclerosed dentin present at the apical region of the root canal. ³⁰

MA produces a better demineralizing effect in a briefer period of time because it’s highly acidic at lower pH within a shorter period of time as it has a greater demineralizing effect when compared to EDTA. As stated above, the dentin present at the apical region of the root canal is greatly sclerosed. The surface tension of 7% maleic acid is less when compared to EDTA hence its acidity doesn’t increase, and it remains highly acidic at low ph. The maleic acid as stated above has the ability of eliminating the smear layer and demineralising inter and peri tubular dentin is because of its low pH of 1.05. Hence, the maleic acid used in this study was efficient in eliminating smear layer from all the sections of the root specimen. There was no statistically significant difference seen between 7% MA, 10% CA and 17% EDTA at the coronal third. The results showed no statistical significance between 7% MA and 10% CA at apical and middle third, concluding that both were better than 17% EDTA in eradicating smear layer at those sections of the root specimen. For the above reasons, better smear layer removal and depth of penetration of Bioceramic sealer was seen with MA and CA at the apical and middle sections significant with the other groups. All the specimens analysed for the control group were heavily smeared in all the sections (coronal, middle and apical third) of the root specimen. ³⁰

The maximum penetration with Bio-ceramic sealer was seen in the coronal section of the root specimen for all the tested irrigants solutions concluding that better smear layer removal was seen at the coronal third. The result is in agreement with the previous study done by Kara et al. which determined that the supreme penetration depth of an endodontic sealer was seen in the coronal region when compared to the apical region and various other studies. ^{31 , 32} This may be due to larger diameter at the coronal and middle third areas, allowing an improved movement of the irrigating solutions. ¹³ Difficulty in cleaning the apical most portion of the root canal can be explained by decrease in the diameter of the root canal at the apex, which decreases the access of irrigants at the apex which consequently results in reduction of its flow. These features don’t allow the irrigants to reach the entire working length and hence the apical area remains uncleaned. Irfan et al. concluded that features that could have an impact in the cleaning of the apical area of the root canals are the complex anatomical configuration seen at the apex, limited space available, low permeability and difficulty of access. ³³

The Bio-ceramic sealer used for the study was BioRoot RCS. It is a mineral based permanent sealer used for obturating the root canal. It has an excellent adhesion to dentin and also to the gutta percha cones. It is hydrophilic in nature and continues its adhesion even in the presence of moisture. As it was an in vitro study, the exact in vivo conditions could not be simulated. Confocal LASER microscopy is a well-known light microscopical technique for imaging fluorescently dyed samples with significant three-dimensional structure. It has the ability to capture images at dissimilar depths in a model to enable to reform the three-dimensional structures within an object. Samples used are generally treated with fluorescent dyes to make objects visible. Confocal microscopy delivers the capacity for non-invasive, direct, serial optical sectioning of living specimens in lateral resolution. ^{34 , 35}

Further in vitro studies are required with to check the efficiency of 10% citric acid in removal of smear layer at different sections of the tooth. Further research is obligatory to evaluate the sealer penetration depth of endodontic sealers with other biocompatible chelating irrigants gaining importance lately.

Maximum sealer penetration was seen in the coronal section followed by middle and apical sections of the root specimen. 17% EDTA, 10% CA, 7% MA were equally effective in sealer penetration at coronal third. However, in middle and apical section, 10% CA and 7% MA showed better efficacy in removal of smear layer compared to 17% EDTA, thereby showing more sealer penetration. Saline showed the least penetration of sealer in the dentinal tubules.