Which substance is soaked into paper points before insertion to dress the canal?

• A. Paper points
• B. Lubricating gel
• C. Gutta-percha points
• D. Cresophene

Answer: (D)

In endodontics, paper points act as absorbent carriers to deliver medicaments into the root canal and to help dry it. Soaking these points in an antiseptic ensures the medicament is applied directly as the point is inserted, dressing the canal between visits and helping to reduce microbial load. Cresophene is a phenolic antiseptic prepared for canal disinfection, so saturating the paper points with Cresophene allows its antimicrobial action to be delivered along the canal walls and toward the apex. Lubricating gel is used mainly to ease insertion and not for disinfection, gutta-percha points are used for obturation rather than dressing with an antiseptic, and paper points themselves are the carrier, not the medicament.