{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T12:53:30Z","timestamp":1787921610406,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,1]],"date-time":"2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743465600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]},"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background:<\/jats:title>\n Effective root canal irrigation removes the smear layer for optimal sealer penetration. While 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) is effective, concerns about dentin erosion exist. Alternatives like 7% maleic acid (MA) and 20% N-acetylcysteine (NAC) show promise with fewer adverse effects.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Aim:<\/jats:title>\n To compare the effects of 20% NAC, 7% MA, and 17% EDTA as final irrigating solutions on the depth of sealer penetration into dentinal tubules at coronal, middle, and apical thirds of root canals using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Materials and Methods:<\/jats:title>\n \n Sixty-six single-canal mandibular premolars free of caries, fractures, or prior treatment were selected. The teeth were decoronated to 14 mm root length using a diamond disk under water spray. Working length was determined by inserting a size 10 K-file until visible at the apical foramen, subtracting 1 mm. Root canals were instrumented up to F3 using ProTaper Universal rotary files with 1 mL of 2.5% NaOCl irrigation between files. Based on the final irrigation protocol, samples were divided into three groups (\n n<\/jats:italic>\n = 22): Group 1\u201320% NAC, Group 2\u20137% MA, and Group 3\u201317% EDTA. Each group was irrigated with 5 mL of the respective irrigant, followed by a final rinse with 10 mL of distilled water. AH Plus sealer with 0.1% Rhodamine B was applied using a #25 Lentulo, and an F3 gutta-percha cone coated with the sealer was placed to working length, trimmed, and sealed with Cavit. Samples were incubated at 37\u00b0C and 100% humidity for 7 days to allow sealer setting. Roots were sectioned at 2, 5, and 8 mm from the apex to obtain 1 mm thick sections. Sealer penetration into dentinal tubules was evaluated using CLSM at \u00d710 magnification, measuring the penetration depth in micrometers from the canal wall to the point of maximum sealer infiltration using ImageJ software, measuring the longest penetration depth from the canal wall to the point of deepest sealer infiltration.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n \n Sealer penetration was greatest in the coronal third, followed by the middle, with the least in the apical third (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.0001). NAC demonstrated the highest mean in the coronal region (829.35 \u00b1 85.36), while MA exhibited superior performance in the middle (522.92 \u00b1 112.32) and apical (361.76 \u00b1 49.03) regions. Intergroup comparisons showed superior penetration with 7% MA in the apical region (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.0001). NAC and EDTA demonstrated comparable penetration across regions.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n While all irrigants enhanced sealer penetration, 7% MA was most effective in the apical region. Both 7% MA and 20% NAC can serve as alternatives to 17% EDTA for final irrigation.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/jcde.jcde_44_25","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,3]],"date-time":"2025-04-03T17:58:59Z","timestamp":1743703139000},"page":"309-313","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Comparative evaluation of effect of N-acetyl cysteine, maleic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid on the depth of dentinal tubule penetration of an epoxy resin-based root canal sealer: A confocal laser scanning microscopy study"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"28","author":[{"given":"Greeta","family":"Sunny","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KLE University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Preeti Kore","family":"Doddwad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KLE University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suresh","family":"Shenvi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KLE University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20250403","first-page":"311","article-title":"Evaluation of different irrigation techniques on dentin erosion and smear layer removal:A scanning electron microscopy 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Dent Endod"},{"key":"R8-20250403","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"512","DOI":"10.4103\/JCD.JCD_102_19","article-title":"Scanning electron microscopy evaluation of dentin ultrastructure after surface demineralization","volume":"23","author":"Kuntze","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Conserv Dent"},{"key":"R9-20250403","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1747-4477.2010.00291.x","article-title":"Effects of different irrigation solutions on root dentine microhardness, smear layer removal and erosion","volume":"39","author":"Ulusoy","year":"2013","journal-title":"Aust Endod J"},{"key":"R10-20250403","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1561","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.127091.1","article-title":"To evaluate and compare the effect of 17% EDTA, 10% citric acid, 7% maleic acid on the dentinal tubule penetration depth of bio ceramic root canal sealer using confocal laser scanning microscopy:An in vitro 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penetration depth and percentage of root canal sealer","volume":"38","author":"Kara Tuncer","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Endod"},{"key":"R14-20250403","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/8726388","article-title":"The effect of different final irrigation regimens on the dentinal tubule penetration of three different root canal sealers:a confocal laser scanning microscopy study in vitro","volume":"2021","author":"Ozasir","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scanning"},{"key":"R15-20250403","first-page":"69","article-title":"Effects of different final irrigating solutions on depth of sealer penetration into dentinal tubules:An in vitro confocal laser microscopic study","volume":"2","author":"Shetty","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Oper Dent Endod"},{"key":"R16-20250403","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tripleo.2009.05.039","article-title":"A comparative in vitro evaluation of cytotoxic effects of EDTA and maleic acid:Root canal 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