Title	Eucalyptol and Chloroform Have Same Effect for Cleaning Dentinal Tubules
Clinical Question	For root canal retreatment, would eucalyptol be more effective in cleaning dentinal tubules than chloroform?
Clinical Bottom Line	Although the results of control vs. solvent differed between the two studies, both studies showed no difference in cleaning dentinal tubules with eucalyptol or chloroform during root canal retreatment.
Best Evidence
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type (level of evidence) 19089285 Scelza/2008 40 human maxillary canines Laboratory Study Key results "No significant difference was found among the solvent groups regarding the number of dentinal tubules free of root filling remnants in the middle and apical root thirds (p>.05)" 19825038 Horvath/2009 70 maxillary incisors and canines Laboratory Study Key results “Open tubules were more prevalent in control group, followed by nonsolvent group, then eucalyptol group and the chloroform group (P<0.05 between all groups).”
Evidence Search	"eucalyptol"[Supplementary Concept] AND "Chloroform"[Mesh] AND (hasabstract[text] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms])
Comments on The Evidence	Validity: Both studies are laboratories studies. Collections of teeth were filled with gutta percha, sectioned and studied with digital images. Only one operator in each of these studies analyzed digital images. While Horvath used canines and incisors, Scelza’s study compares same type of teeth (maxillary canines), reducing the possibility of anatomic variables. It is not clear if teeth were obturated and sectioned by only one operator. Perspective: Based on this comparative study, eucalyptol is as effective as chloroform in cleaning dentinal tubules during root canal retreatment. However, these studies were done on extracted teeth; specimens were stored in artificial saliva for 3 months. An in vivo study would need to be considered to confirm results.
Applicability	During root canal retreatment, the cleaning of dentinal tubules is critical for success. This evidence shows that there is no difference in dentin tubule cleanliness between these two solvents; however, further studies should be done in order to identify a better solvent to remove gutta-percha and sealer from canals, taking into consideration factors such as costs, toxicity, etc. All these factors should be discussed as part of patient’s consent form.
Specialty	(Endodontics) (General Dentistry) (Restorative Dentistry)
Keywords	Eucalyptol, Chloroform, Endodontic retreatment, root canal retreatment, dentinal tubules, gutta percha, sealer.
ID#	2951
Date of submission	11/10/2015
E-mail	vargasca@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author	Claudia Vargas, DDS
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor	Luis C. Yepes, DDS
Faculty mentor e-mail	yepes@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale (Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) None available
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT (FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) None available