The penetration of smear material into dentinal tubules during instrumentation with surface-active reagents: a scanning electron microscopic study.

Thirty freshly extracted, single-rooted anterior teeth were used. They were divided into three groups and instrumented conventionally with #10 to 50 K files. During instrumentation, the K files in the first group were moistened with saline solution, in the second group with 50% sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate solution, and in the third group with Sulfapon (sodium salt of sulfonated condensation product of ethylen oxide with a fatty acid) solution. After the experimental procedure the specimens were examined in a scanning electron microscope to observe packing of smear material into dentinal tubules. Results showed the surface-active reagents cause the deeper penetration of the smear material into the dentinal tubules. These findings support the hypothesis that the phenomenon of the packing of smear material into the dentinal tubules is by capillary action and fluid dynamics.