The effect of various irrigation solutions on the removal of calcium hydroxide medicaments with different vehicles from root canals

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of five different calcium hydroxide (CH) vehicles and two different chelating agents (EDTA and Dual Rinse HEDP) on the amount of residual calcium hydroxide in root canals. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 teeth (n=150) were used to form 5 main groups. Five different CH medicaments with different carriers were placed in the main groups (n=30), and then the samples were incubated for 1 week. After the samples were removed from the incubator, each main group was further divided into two subgroups (A and B) according to the chelating agent used for the removal of the medicament. Thus, 10 groups were formed. In subgroup A, 17% EDTA solution and EDDY activation system were used for the removal of the medicament. In subgroup B, SH-Dual Rinse HEDP combined solution and EDDY activation system were used for the removal of the medicament. Then, digital images of the samples were taken under a stereomicroscope, and area calculations were made using an image analysis program. The normal distribution of continuous variables was examined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test depending on the sample size. Non-parametric tests were preferred in comparative analyses between groups due to the non-normal distribution of the data. Accordingly, the Mann Whitney U test was used for independent two-group analyses, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparisons of more than two independent groups. Post-Hoc Bonferroni Correction was applied according to the results of the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: No significant difference was found in terms of CH residue amount among CH vehicles. There is a significant difference between the chelating agents EDTA and Dual Rinse HEDP. Higher CH residue amounts were found in samples irrigated with Dual Rinse HEDP. When all study groups were examined, the residue amount detected in the Propylene glycol-Dual Rinse HEDP group was significantly higher than the residue amount detected in the Silicone oil-EDTA group. Keywords: CH vehicles, Dual Rinse HEDP, EDTA, stereomicroscope