Objective This clinical study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate as irrigants in reducing the cultivable bacterial populations in infected root canals of teeth with apical periodontitis. Study design According to stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria, 32 teeth with primary intraradicular infections and chronic apical periodontitis...