Electrolytic Water Cleaning Efficacy in Root Canals in Lab Tests
Cleaning efficacy and dentin micro-hardness after root canal irrigation with a strong acid electrolytic water
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Yu Qing, Yasumitsu Akita, Satoshi Kawano, Sukeyuki Kawazu, Takakazu Yoshida, Ichiro Sekine
- Journal
- Journal of Endodontics
- Year
- 2006
- PMID
- 17055917
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Participants
- 43
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 43 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Using strong acid electrolytic water (SAEW) to clean root canals is as effective as traditional methods and doesn't weaken the tooth's structure.
Key Finding
Strong acid electrolytic water combined with sodium hypochlorite cleaned root canals as effectively as the standard combination of sodium hypochlorite and EDTA, without damaging the hardness of the tooth structure.
Summary
This study tested whether a special type of water created through electrolysis (called strong acid electrolytic water, or SAEW) could clean root canals as well as standard cleaning solutions used in dental procedures. Researchers treated extracted teeth with different irrigating solutions and examined how well they cleaned the canal walls and whether they damaged the tooth structure. SAEW combined with sodium hypochlorite (a common bleach-based cleaner) worked as well as the standard combination of sodium hypochlorite and EDTA, and using SAEW with ultrasonic vibration for 1 minute did not weaken the tooth material.
Practical Takeaway
This is a laboratory study on extracted teeth, not human testing, so it cannot yet confirm benefits or safety in actual dental treatment. The findings suggest SAEW may be a promising alternative for root canal cleaning, but clinical trials in patients would be needed before it could be recommended for dental use. This research is early-stage and does not apply to hydrogen water as a beverage.
Abstract (excerpt)
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cleaning effect of root canal walls using strong acid electrolytic water (SAEW) as a root canal irrigant, and to investigate the influence of SAEW on the root canal dentin by micro-hardness test. Forty-three single-rooted, single-canaled teeth were…