Aim: A new product, electro-chemically activated water, was compared to NaOCl for its cleaning effect on root canal walls.
Methodology: Root canal treatment was carried out on two groups of extracted teeth with one of the irrigants being used in each group. The control group received no treatment. All teeth were split and the canal walls viewed in a scanning electron microscope.
Results: The canal walls of the control group were covered by debris and bacteria. Sodium hypochlorite produced clean surfaces with the dentinal tubules open in some areas and occluded by the smear layer in other areas; in some areas bacteria were visible inside or under the smear layer. Electro-chemically activated water produced markedly cleaner surfaces, removing the smear layer in large areas.
Conclusions: The cleaning efficacy of electro-chemically activated water in root canals was considered to be superior to NaOCl.