Effects of chlorhexidine gluconate as an endodontic irrigant on the apical seal: short-term results

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12%), used as an endodontic irrigating solution would affect the apical seal obtained when using three different root canal cements. One hundred extracted human single-canal teeth were divided into 9 experimental groups of 10 teeth each and a positive and negative group of 5 teeth each. The teeth were decoronated at the level of the cementoenamel junction, then accessed, instrumented to a Master Apical File #50, irrigated with either sterile saline, 5.25% NaOCl or 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, and dried using paper points. Obturation was accomplished using lateral condensation and 1 of 3 endodontic sealers: Roth's 811, AH26, or Sealapex. At 90 and 180 days after obturation apical leakage was measured using the fluid filtration method. Using the ANOVA test the results showed no significant difference in seal related to the irrigant at both the 90- and 180-day observation periods.