Ethylenediaminedisuccinic Acid: A Bio-Friendly Chelating Agent for Smear Layer Removal, Dentine Integrity, and Sealer...

Although EDTA remains the gold standard, concerns regarding its toxicity/environmental persistence have driven the search for bio-friendly alternatives. We evaluated the effect of EDDS on microhardness, smear layer, and dentine penetration of canal sealer. Two hundred and fifteen single-rooted teeth with round morphology were used. Samples were treated with solutions for 3 min. Vickers microhardness was analysed. Final irrigation was performed: GroupET: 17%-EDTA; GroupED:15%-EDDS; GroupET/N:17%-EDTA +2.5%-NaOCl; GroupED/N:15%-EDDS +2.5%-NaOCl; GroupC:distilled-water. The smear layer was evaluated. Canals were obturated using epoxy-resin and bioceramic-sealer. Dentine penetration was analysed using confocal microscopy. One-way-ANOVA, Student's t-test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton-exact, and Wilcoxon signed-rank-test were applied. EDTA and EDDS affected microhardness, smear layer, and dentine penetration similarly (p > 0.05). Dentine penetration was higher with the bioceramic-sealer and was enhanced by NaOCl (p < 0.05). EDDS demonstrated similar results to EDTA and represents a potentially more bio-friendly chelating approach that may support more biologically/environmentally conscious irrigation strategies.