Calcium hydroxide's association with different vehicles: In vitro action on some dentinal components

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Endodontics
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) is a widely used intracanal medicament for temporary endodontic treatment.
• The choice of vehicle for Ca(OH)(2) can impact its ionic dissociation and therapeutic efficacy.
• Understanding vehicle effects is crucial for optimizing root canal disinfection and healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pH levels of Ca(OH)(2) solutions with various vehicles.
• To quantify the release of proteins, hydroxyproline, and phosphorus from radicular dentin exposed to these solutions.
• To determine how different vehicles influence the degradation of dentin components by Ca(OH)(2).

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight extracted incisors were immersed for 35 days in Ca(OH)(2) solutions.
• Vehicles tested included chlorhexidine digluconate, propylene glycol (PG), anesthetic solution, camphorated monochlorophenol (CMCP), and a CMCP-PG combination.
• A control group used Ca(OH)(2) in an aqueous solution without a vehicle.

Main Results:

• pH levels remained relatively stable across all tested solutions.
• Significant increases in protein, hydroxyproline, and phosphorus concentrations were observed in dentin samples.
• Specific vehicles like chlorhexidine and PG enhanced protein and phosphorus release, while CMCP and PG formulations increased hydroxyproline release.

Conclusions:

• The tested Ca(OH)(2) solutions maintained an alkaline environment in contact with root dentin.
• A notable release of dentin matrix components (proteins, hydroxyproline, phosphorus) occurred, influenced by the vehicle used.