ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective: To evaluate, by scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM), the cleaning of root canal walls after biomechanicalpreparation and irrigation with castor oil (Endoquil®) and 0.5% sodiumhypochlorite (NaOCl). Material and methods: Fifteen maxillaryincisors were subjected to standardized root canal instrumentationwith different irrigants (n = 5): G1 ? Endoquil; G2 ? 0.5% NaOCl;G3 ? saline solution (control). After instrumentation, the teeth wereprepared for SEM analysis (X 2000 original magnification) to evaluatethe cleaning of cervical, middle and apical thirds. The area analyzedwas quantified according to the percentage of open and closed tubulesand data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests.Results: Statistical analysis showed that Endoquil was similar to 0.5%NaOCl at the apical third. However, there was statistically significantdifference at the cervical and middle thirds, between these two groups.Conclusion: It was concluded that Endoquil presented better resultsat the middle third while 0.5% NaOCl presented better results at thecervical third; at the apical third, both irrigants were similar.