DUE TO THE COMPLEX ANATOMY OF THE ROOT CANAL SYSTEM, MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTATION LEAVES SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS (UP TO 50%) OF THE ROOT CANAL WALLS UNTOUCHED. THEREFORE, COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF MICROBIOTA FROM THE ROOT CANAL SYSTEM BY CLEANING THE ROOT CANAL USING INSTRUMENTATION ALONE IS UNLIKELY. FURTHERMORE, IT IS ASSUMED, BUT NOT DEMONSTRATED, THAT ANY PULP TISSUE LEFT IN THE ROOT CANALS CAN SERVE AS BACTERIAL NUTRIENT. FURTHERMORE, TISSUE REMNANTS ALSO IMPEDE THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF ROOT CANAL IRRIGANTS AND MEDICAMENTS AND PREVENT INTIMATE ADAPTATION OF THE ROOT CANAL FILLING TO THE DENTIN. THEREFORE, IRRIGATION Solutions AND INTRACANAL MEDICAMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO REMOVE TISSUE FROM THE ROOT CANALS AND TO KILL MICROORGANISMS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER WAS TO REVIEW ROOT CANAL IRRIGANTS INCLUDING SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, CHLORHEXIDINE, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, IODINE POTASSIUM IODIDE (IKI), ANTIBIOTIC-BASED IRRIGANTS (INCLUDING MTAD AND TETRACLEAN) AND QMIX.