The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface tension of calcium hydroxide (CH) associated with different substances (deionized distilled water, camphorated paramonochlorophenol, 2% chlorhexidine digluconate, Otosporin, 3% sodium lauryl ether sulphate; Furacin, PMC Furacin) using tensiometer. The action of the substances studied on the dentinal structure enhances the property of surface tension. This method consists in the application of force to separate a platinum ring immersed in the substances. Thus, torsion was applied to the screw until the platinum ring separated during substances testing. Considering the methodology applied, the following can be concluded: distilled water alone or associated with CH presented a high surface tension (70.00 and 68.40 dynes/cm); calcium hydroxide in association with anionic detergent showed low surface tension (31.60 dynes/cm); camphorated paramonochlorophenol plus CH presented low surface tension (37.50 dynes/cm); 2% chlorhexidine associated with calcium hydroxide showed high surface tension values (58.00 dynes/cm); Otosporin plus calcium hydroxide showed low surface tension (35.40 dynes/cm); paramonochlorophenol Furacin mixed with calcium hydroxide presented surface tension equal to 45.50 dynes/cm; sodium hypochlorite presented high surface tension (75.00 dynes/cm). Antimicrobial agents more indicated in endodontics, i.e. CH, chlorhexidine and hypochlorite, presented the highest surface tension.
Calcium hydroxide; Root canal dressing; Surface tension
