Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 2

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Neethu Nanda B.
NeethuNanda@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the dissolving capability of gutta-percha in various essential oils as endodontic solvents such as orange oil, tea tree oil and lemon grass oil at different immersion time intervals 2 minutes and 5 minutes. Materials and Methods: 80 ISO no. 25 cones (0.06 taper) were taken as sample for the study. Samples were divided in to four experimental groups of 10 cones each at 2 different immersion time intervals at 2 and 5 min at room temperature to investigate the potential of these solvents for clinical use in dissolving gutta percha. Each sample was weighed initially before immersing in the solvent on a digital analytical scale. Distilled water as a control group. Samples were removed from the solvents after specified immersion time period and then washed in 100ml of distilled water and allowed to dry for 24h at 37*c. The extent of gutta percha removed from their respective solvents was calculated from the difference between original weight of gutta percha and its final weight. Means and standard deviations of percentage loss of weight were calculated at each time interval for each group of specimens. Results: No significance in the amount of gutta percha dissolved at 2 and 5 minute immersion time intervals in all four groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference among the groups such as orange oil and tea tree oil (p < 0.05) except lemon grass oil and distilled water. Conclusion: The results showed that tea tree oil has similar solvent effects as orange oil and better antimicrobial action than orange oil on softening gutta percha during retreatment.

Keywords: Endodontic retreatment, gutta percha, essential oils.