The Dissolving Capability Of Various Gutta-Percha Solvents

Abstract

The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare and evaluate the efficiency of three types of chemical solvents; tetrachloroethylene, xylene and eucalyptol oil in softening gutta-percha and zinc oxide eugenol sealer. Thirty extracted human lower second premolars with single and straight canals were used in this study. All teeth had mature apices. The coronal portions of the experimental teeth were removed to standardize the length of the root (15 mm from apex to coronal end).Step-back instrumentation was performed to flare and enlarge the canals until size 45(master apical file). Lateral condensation technique was used to obturate the canals with gutta-percha and zinc oxide eugenol cement sealer, and then stored in 100% humidity at 37° for 7 days. Specimens were randomly divided into three experimental groups based on the solvent to be used (10 teeth for each group).A number 30 hedstrom file was used with a push-pull action to attempt penetration into the test sample with the addition of 0.02 ml increments of solvent. The times taken for the hedstrom file to penetrate the length of the canals were recorded.The results showed that tetrachloethylene has statistically the lowest mean of penetration time, followed by xylene while eucalyptol oil has the highest mean of penetration time.