Comparative assessment of chelating and antimicrobial efficacy of phytic acid alone and in combination with other irrigants

Chemomechanical debridement is an integral part in endodontics. Mechanical debridement results in the formation of smear layer on root canal surfaces whereas chemical debridment results in removal of smear layer resulting higher success of root canal treatment. This present study evaluates the chelating and antimicrobial ability of phytic acid alone and in combination with different irrigating solutions. Chelating ability was assessed by calcium titration method and antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by agar diffusion method. In this study the chelating ability of phytic acid in combination with sodium hypochlorite gave the best result when compared to phytic acid alone. Phytic acid alone showed more zone of inhibition indicating its antimicrobial efficacy is more when compared with other irrigants. However the antimicrobial efficacy of phytic acid with other irrigants gave better results when compared to individual irrigants.