Natural irrigation solutions in endodontics

Abstract

It has been discovered that due to the complex structure of root canals, mechanical instrumentation alone was not sufficient to remove microorganisms settled in the pulp cavity and the infected or non-infected pulp residues that could be nutrients for those bacteria. Therefore, it has been highlighted that the irrigation process carried out with the irrigation solutions that enable root canal disinfection by removing those microorganisms and tissue residues without damaging the surrounding tissues is extremely important. Although various irrigation solutions used for this purpose allow for a significant reduction in the bacterial population in infected root canals, in many clinical cases, some bacteria remain and proliferate, thereby cause re-infection of the canal and failure of the root canal treatment. In order to increase the success of root canal treatments, research studies to find an ideal irrigation agent are still underway. In recent years, the interest in the use of natural products has increased significantly. Conventional irrigation solutions currently in use today, however, are defined as synthetic chemical agents. As synthetic agents have certain disadvantages such as lacking the characteristic properties of an ideal irrigation material alone, failing to create sufficient effect at high concentrations, having potential side effects, causing drug interactions in combined use and not responding safety concerns, naturally sourced alternatives for endodontic use have begun to be investigated. In this context, this review aims to present current literature information about the known and developing natural root canal irrigation agents besides the known root canal irrigation agents.