Etidronic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid associated with sodium hypochlorite have limited effect on the compressive fracture resistance of roots ex vivo.
Aims
To assess the effect of etidronic acid (EA) mixed with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and two ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-containing preparations (EDTA and SmearClear) alternated with NaOCl, as a final rinse, on root fracture resistance to a compressive force.


Materials and Methods
Seventy-two premolar roots were randomly allocated to the following groups according to the irrigant solutions. For the EA group, 9% EA + 2.5% NaOCl were used throughout the assays (n = 21). The remaining groups received 2.5% NaOCl during and immediately after chemo-mechanical instrumentation. Intermediately, the roots received 17% EDTA (n = 19), or SmearClear (n = 16), or no irrigation (control) (n = 16) plus a final rinse with 2.5% NaOCl. The specimens were subjected to a vertical compressive force loaded at a crosshead speed of 0.02 mm/s parallel to the long axis of the root until fracture occurred. The results were compared statistically using the one-way analysis of variance for intergroup comparisons.


Results
The negative control presented with the highest values, whereas the SmearClear presented with the lowest values, though no significant differences were found when comparing the different groups (P = 0.82).


Conclusions
The use of EA + NaOCl or two EDTA formulations in association with NaOCl does not affect the fracture resistance of previously chemo-mechanically prepared roots.
['Gonzalez|Cristina Sanchez|CS|', 'Estevez|Roberto|R|', 'Loroño|Gaizka|G|', 'García|Victor Diaz-Flores|VD|', 'Caballero Montes|Jose Antonio|JA|', 'Rossi-Fedele|Giampiero|G|', 'Cisneros|Rafael|R|']
etidronic acid ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid fracture resistance Chelating agents endodontics root canal treatment