Interactions of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hypochlorite in aqueous solutions

To evaluate interactions of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).

Solutions consisting of 8.5% EDTA and 0.5% NaOCl were compared to a 1 : 1 (w/w) mixture of 17% EDTA and 1% NaOCl for their calcium-chelating, tissue-dissolving, and antimicrobial properties. Amounts of available chlorine were determined in the EDTA/NaOCl solutions with an iodine/thiosulphate titration method. Calcium chelation capacity was titrated with a pure calcium solution using a murexide indicator. Weight loss of porcine palatal mucosal specimens incubated in the test solutions was measured over time. Antimicrobial potential of pure solutions and the combination was recorded using an agar diffusion test in plates incubated with Enterococcus faecalis or Candida albicans.

The presence of hypochlorite had little effect on the calcium-chelating ability or on the antimicrobial potential of EDTA. Available chlorine content decreased to 0.06% in the combined EDTA-NaOCl solution compared to 0.50% in an equivalent NaOCl mixture with deionized water. The EDTA-NaOCl solution did not dissolve more tissue than an equivalent pure EDTA solution at any time (anova, P > 0.05).

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid retained its calcium-complexing ability when mixed with NaOCl, but EDTA caused NaOCl to lose its tissue-dissolving capacity and virtually no free chlorine was detected in the combinations. Clinically, this suggests that EDTA and NaOCl should be used separately. In an alternating irrigating regimen, copious amounts of NaOCl should be administered to wash out remnants of the EDTA.