Dentistry

Abstract

Wettability of Irrigants used in Root Canal Treatment

Hélio P Lopes, Adenilza R De Faria, Flávio RF Alves and Carlos N Elias

This study assessed the contact angle and the surface tension of different chemical solutions used in the chemomechanical preparation of root canals in order to calculate its wettability. The tested irrigants were: 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); BioPure MTAD?; and 0.9% sterile physiological saline solution, as the control. A goniometer was used to measure the contact angle and the surface tension. Then the wettability of each solution was calculated using Young's equation. BioPure MTAD? showed significantly higher contact angle (p=0.002), compared to the other substances, which did not differ among themselves. As the surface tension, BioPure MTAD? showed significantly lower values (p=0.001). As for 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine, and the control, chlorhexidine presented lowest surface tension (p<0.01). BioPure MTAD? showed the best wettability in relation to the other tested irrigant, followed by two percent of CHX and 2.5% NaOCl.