Effect of gaseous ozone and light‐activated disinfection on the surface hardness of resin‐based root canal sealers

Abstract

Although root canal instruments remove most of the content from the main root canal space, disinfection or irrigation plays an indispensable role in all areas of the root canal system, especially in parts that are inaccessible by instruments. The originality of this study was to investigate the effect of two novel disinfection techniques on the surface hardness of resin-based endodontic sealers using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Forty extracted single-rooted maxillary central human teeth were prepared and divided into four groups according to treatment methods. The first group was irrigated with saline and served as a control, other groups irrigated with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO); gaseous ozone; and light-activated disinfection (LAD). The groups were divided into two subgroups, according to the obturation method used: subgroup A: gutta-percha and AH plus; and subgroup B: EndoREZ/resin-coated cones. After obturation, atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement was performed to analyze the surface hardness of the sealers. There was a significant difference between group 1A and group 3A (p < 0.05). Group 3B had the highest surface hardness values that were statistically different (p < 0.05). When disregarding the sealers, the ozone possessed statistically higher surface hardness values than the other groups in all root thirds (p < 0.05). The use of ozone and LAD may alter the surface hardness of resin-based sealers. The use of AFM can be considered an alternative hardness test techonology for sealing material.

Application of Selected Nanomaterials and Ozone in Modern Clinical Dentistry

“…The main reason why chemical interference and disinfection protocols are so crucial is the complexity of the root canal system and rich network of channels which are unreachable to instruments. The most important characteristics of irrigators are their tissue-dissolving ability and low toxicity, combined with antimicrobial effect [88]. The goal of modern endodontic therapy and modern endodontic materials is to achieve maximal disinfection of the root canal system, smallest possible area of preparation which will provide long-term success and no reinfections.Ozone is considered as a beneficial choice of canal antiseptic.…”