CLSM analysis of live/dead bacteria in dentinal tubules. (A) Positive and negative control sample images. Red indicates dead bacteria (−Ve control), and green indicates live bacteria (+Ve control) in dentinal tubules. Negative control was inoculated as for experimental samples and then autoclaved; positive control was inoculated but not disinfected. (B) Representative stacked images from coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the root showing dentinal tubules in samples treated by different irrigation methods: SNI, EA, XP Endo, and PIPS. C, canal side; D, dentin.