Antimicrobial effectiveness of combinations of oxidant and chelating agents in infected dentine: an ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy study.

The use of adjunctive agents reducing the surface tension associated with oxidant and chelating agents improved the antimicrobial activity of irrigating solutions and intratubular decontamination against Enterococcus faecalis, possibly due to better removal of the smear layer and deeper penetration into dentinal tubules.