A comparison of the effectiveness of 17% EDTA and 6.25% pineapple peel extract in removing the smear layer in the apical third of the root canal: Perbandingan efektivitas EDTA 17% dan ekstrak kulit nanas 6,25% untuk menghilangkan lapisan smear pada sepertiga apikal saluran akar

Noor Hikmah (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Rianti (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Nurhayaty Natsir (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Juni Jekti Nugroho (Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)

MDJ (Makassar Dental Journal)
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): Volume 15 Issue 2 August 2026

The smear layer is a thin layer consisting of organic and inorganic substances that can potentially cause microleakage. Therefore, the removal of the smear layer is crucial to the success of root canal treatment. This study compared the effectiveness of smear layer removal between 17% EDTA and 6.25% pineap-ple peel extract (PPE) (Ananas comosus L. Merr). A total of 32 upper premolars with intact crowns and root canals were divided into two groups: 17% EDTA and 6.25% PPE. The samples were prepared using the crown-down pressureless technique, rinsed according to their respective groups, and analysed for smear layer removal using SEM at 1000x magnification at the apical third of the root canal. A t-test revealed a significant difference in the effectiveness of smear layer removal between the two groups. Pineapple peel extract demonstrated superior performance in removing the smear layer at the apical third com-pared with 17% EDTA. It was concluded that 6.25% PPE is a promising alternative to 17% EDTA for root canal irrigation.