Abstract Irrigation solutions might affect dentin surface characteristics and, consequently, endodontic sealers adhesion. Objective This study analyzed the effect of different final irrigation protocols on push-out bond strength (BS) of AH Plus to dentin seven days and 20 months after obturation. Scanning electron micrographs were obtained from the dentin surface of one sample/group after final irrigation. Methodology Canals of bovine incisors were instrumented and received final irrigation with (n=21): G1 – 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) + distilled water; G2 – 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA; G3 – 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA + 2.5% NaOCl; G4 – 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA + 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); G5 – mixture 5% NaOCl + 18% etidronate (HEDP); and G6 – mixture 5% NaOCl + 10% tetrasodium EDTA (Na4EDTA). After irrigation, one root/group was split and images were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The other 20 roots/group were filled with only AH Plus sealer. Three slices/root were used for push-out assessment seven days and 20 months after obturation. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey (α<0.05) were used to compare the results among experimental groups, and unpaired t-test (α<0.05) was used to compare the results of the same group over time. Results The photomicrographs showed that, excepting G1, all groups completely removed the smear layer from the samples. In G2 and G4, the opening of the dentin tubules enlarged. In G3, erosion was observed in the peritubular and intertubular dentin. Values of the BS in the seven days were G2=G3=G4=G5>G6=G1 and in the 20 months were G3=G5>G6=G4>G1=G2. G3, G5, and G6 presented values of BS in 20 months similar to the values of seven days (P>0.05). Conclusions The final irrigation protocols tested produced dentin surfaces with different characteristics. Only G3 and G5 presented high BS values that were stable over time.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial action of different endodontic pastes against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, isolated from the urinary tract, and compare the action with E. faecalis ATCC 4083, isolated from the root canal. For this purpose, dentin blocks were infected for 21 days with both bacteria at different time-intervals to ensure there would be no cross contamination. After this period, blocks were immersed in the test medications for 7 days, according to the following groups: CH/S, CH/P, CH/CMCP, CH/CHX, CH/DAP and TAP. Images of the samples were captured with a confocal microscope and the percentage of live cells was computed by means of the Bioimage program. The ATCC 29212 strain was shown to be more resistant to CH/SS, Calen, CH/DAP, and TAP than the ATCC 4083 strain. The antimicrobial action of the medications against each strain were divergent concerning the order of susceptibility. The authors concluded that the strains behaved in a different manner: in general, those extracted from the urinary tract were more resistant to the tested medications. Therefore, when E. faecalis must be used for in vitro research in endodontics, we suggest the use of ATCC 4083 strain to obtain results that are closer to the clinical reality.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do preparo cervical utilizando a broca LA-Axxess nº 1 (SybronEndo, Glendora, EUA) ou os instrumentos ProTaper S1 e SX (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Suíça) na precisão dos Localizadores Apicais Eletrônicos (LAEs): Root ZX mini (J. Morita Corporation, Tóquio, Japão) e Joypex 5 (Denjoy, Changsha, China). Métodos: Trinta incisivos inferiores foram acessados e o comprimento do canal radicular (CCR) determinado com uma lima K #15 com o auxílio de um estereomicroscópio. Em seguida, os dentes foram distribuídos em dois grupos (n=15) referentes ao preparo cervical com LA-Axxess ou instrumentos ProTaper. Os dentes foram incluídos em alginato e o CCR determinado pelos LAEs antes e após o preparo cervical. Os dados foram classificados em: precisos, se a diferença na medida do CCR era ≤ 0,05 mm; e imprecisos, se a diferença era >0,5 mm ou estava além do CCR. Resultados: O teste de McNemar (α<0.05) foi utilizado para detectar diferenças na precisão dos LAEs antes e após o preparo com os diversos instrumentos, e para detectar diferenças na precisão entre os aparelhos. Não foram identificadas diferenças na precisão entre os dois LAEs (P>0,05) após o preparo cervical, indiferente do instrumento utilizado. Conclusão: O preparo cervical aumentou o número de medições precisas dos LAEs, com diferença estatística para Joypex 5 após o uso da LA-Axxess, contudo os aparelhos apresentaram precisão similar após o preparo cervical, indiferente do instrumento utilizado.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of cervical preflaring using LA-Axxes No. 1 bur (SybronEndo, Glendora, USA) or S1 and SX ProTaper files (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) on the accuracy of the Electronic Apex Locators (EALs): Root ZX mini (J. Morita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and Joypex 5 (Denjoy, Changsha, China). Methods: Thirty mandibular incisors were accessed, and the root canal length (RCL) was determined with a K-file #15, with the aid of a stereo microscope. Afterwards, the specimens were divided into 2 groups (n = 15) referring to the cervical preflaring with LA-Axxess or ProTaper files. The teeth were embedded in alginate and the RCL was determined by the EALs before and after preflaring. Data were classified into: accurate, if the difference in RCL measurement were ≤0.05 mm; and inaccurate, if the difference were >0.5 mm or beyond the RCL. Results: McNemar's test (α<0.05) was used to detect differences in the accuracy of the EALs before and after each preflaring with different instruments, and to detect difference in accuracy among devices. No differences were found concerning the accuracy of the EALs (P > 0.05) after the cervical preflaring, regardless of the used instrument. Conclusion: The preflaring procedure increased the number of accurate measurements for both EALs, with statistical difference for Joypex 5 when the preflaring was performed with LA-Axxess. However, after the cervical preflaring, the EALs showed similar accuracy, regardless of the used instrument.

ABSTRACT Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) remains the most used irrigation solution during root canal preparation because of characteristics such as wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity and organic tissue dissolution capacity. However, these solutions can alter dentin composition and there is no consensus on the optimal concentration of NaOCl to be used. Objectives To determine the organic matter dissolution and changes in dentin chemical composition promoted by different concentrations of NaOCl over time. Material and Methods: Fragments of bovine muscle tissue were weighed before and after 5, 10, and 15 min of immersion in the groups (n=10): G1- 0.9% saline solution; G2- 1% NaOCl; G3- 2.5% NaOCl; and G4- 5% NaOCl. Bovine dentin fragments were subjected to the same irrigants and absorption spectra were collected by Attenuated Total Reflectance of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) before and after 0,5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 min of immersion in the solutions. The ratios of the amide III/phosphate and carbonate/phosphate absorption bands were determined. The tissue dissolution and carbonate/phosphate ratios were submitted to the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s multiple-comparison test (α<0.05) and to the one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s (α<0.05). The amide III/phosphate ratio was analyzed by Friedman test (α<0.05) and the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s post-hoc (α<0.05). Results The increase in NaOCl concentration and contact time intensified the dissolution of organic matter and dentin collagen with reduction in the amide III/phosphate ratio. Significant differences between all groups (p<0.05) were observed in the dissolution of organic matter at 10 min and in the amide III/phosphate ratio between the saline solution and 5% NaOCl at 5 min. The carbonate/phosphate ratio decreased significantly in G2, G3, and G4 after 0,5 min of immersion (p<0.05), but more alterations did not occur in the subsequent periods (p>0.05). Intergroup differences were not observed in this ratio (p>0.05). Conclusions The increase in the exposure time and in the concentration of NaOCl solution lead to an increase in the tissue dissolution and dentin collagen deproteination. Furthermore, some carbonate ions are removed from the dentin inorganic phase by the NaOCl.

An increase in dentin roughness, associated with surface composition, contributes to bacterial adherence in recontaminations. Surface roughness is also important for micromechanical interlocking of dental materials to dentin, and understanding the characteristics of the surface is essential to obtain the adhesion of root canal sealers that have different physico-chemical characteristics. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA), etidronic (HEBP), and citric acid (CA) associated with different irrigation regimens on root dentin roughness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five root halves of anterior teeth were used. The root parts were sectioned in thirds, embedded in acrylic resin and polished to a standard surface roughness. Initially, the samples of each third were randomly assigned into 3 groups and treated as follows: G1 - saline solution (control); G2 - 5% NaOCl+18% HEBP mixed in equal parts; and G3 - 2.5% NaOCl. After initial measuments, the G3 samples were distributed into subgroups G4, G5 and G6, which were subjected to 17% EDTA, 10% CA and 9% HEBP, respectively. Following the new measuments, these groups received a final flush with 2.5% NaOCl, producing G7, G8 and G9. The dentin surface roughness (Ra) was determined before and after treatments using a profilometer. The Wilcoxon test (α<0.05) was used to compare the values before and after treatments, and the Friedman test (α<0.05) to detect any differences among root thirds. RESULTS: (i) NaOCl did not affect the surface roughness; (ii) there was a significant increase in roughness after the use of chelating agents (P<0.01); and (iii) only the G3 group showed a difference in surface roughness between apical third and other thirds of the teeth (P<0.0043). CONCLUSION: Only the irrigation regimens that used chelating agents altered the roughness of root dentin.