Nanostructural changes in dentine caused by endodontic irrigants

OBJECTIVE To study nanostructural dentinal changes produced by endodontic irrigants. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. Nanoindentations were performed on peritubular (PD) and intertubular dentine (ID) with an atomic force microscopy. Stiffness and adhesion force were determined before and after application of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Normalized differences before and after treatment for stiffness and adhesion forces were calculated. A paired T-test was used to compare stiffness and adhesion force before and after irrigants application. RESULTS After treatment with EDTA there was a 29.80% reduction in stiffness in ID and a 63.53% reduction in PD. Adhesion force was reduced by 21.22% and 8.21% respectively. After treatment with 5.25% NaOCI stiffness was reduced by 2.49% in ID and increased by 15.01% in PD. Adhesion force increased by 25.11% and 23.97% respectively. CONCLUSIONS 17% EDTA reduced stiffness and adhesion force in ID and PD. Treatment with NaOCI at 5.25% had no significant effect on stiffness but did affect adhesion force in ID and PD.