Background. Solutions of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) have been used as canal irrigants in endodontic treatment. The authors conducted a study to compare the ability of these solutions to dissolve sealers.
Methods. The authors assessed the solubility of six sealers—calcium hydroxide, polyketone, zinc oxide–eugenol, silicone and two epoxy resins—in EDTA and two concentrations of NaOCl (2.5 percent and 5.0 percent). They immersed standardized samples (n = 5) of each sealer for two minutes and 10 minutes. They obtained the mean values of sealer dissolution in solutions by calculating the difference between the original preimmersion and postimmersion weights to determine the amount of sealer removed. They compared the values via factorial analysis of variance. They analyzed differences between the six sealers with respect to their solubility in EDTA or NaOCl solutions at two minutes and 10 minutes by using a one-way analysis of variance (P < .05).
Results. In comparison with NaOCl solutions, EDTA was markedly superior in dissolving root canal sealers (P < .05). There were no significant differences between the two concentrations of NaOCl. The two epoxy resins and the silicone-based sealer were of low solubility. The zinc oxide–eugenol—based sealer was significantly more soluble than were the epoxy resins and the silicone-based sealers. Polyketone and calcium hydroxide–based sealers were the most soluble sealers (P < .05).
Conclusions and Clinical Implications. The results of this study indicate that during nonsurgical endodontic re-treatment, EDTA and NaOCl solutions used for removing smear layer aided in the retreatment by dissolving some root canal sealers.
