Effects of oxidative irrigants on root dentin structure: Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy study.

AIM The aim of this study was to compare the effect of oxidative irrigants on the organic and inorganic structure of root canal dentin. METHODOLOGY Fifty human 2nd premolar roots were used in the study. The dentin specimens prepared from those teeth were immersed in liquid nitrogen for 15 min. The frozen composition was titrated in a mixer and the obtained dentin powder was kept frozen at -70°C until use. Ten groups of 50mg dentin powder were immersed in agents (A: Ozone for 100 or 200 sec, B: 5.25% NaOCl, C: 2.25% NaOCl, D: 2% Chlorhexidine, E: 0.9% NaCl (control)) for 5 or 10 min. An Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (ATR FT-IR) was used to analyze dentin powder. The data were statistically analyzed by using Kruskall-Wallis analysis of variance. RESULTS In all groups, collagen degradation was significantly increased compared to the control and 2% CHX groups (p<0.05). The use of ozone increased collagen degradation significantly compared to the use of 2.25% NaOCl and 2% Chlorhexidine for 5 min (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between ozone and 5.25% NaOCl-treated groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The structural composition of human dentin was significantly affected by the use of oxidative irrigants at higher concentrations.