IN-VITRO EFFICIENCY OF ENDODONTIC IRRIGATION SOLUTIONS ON PROTEIN DESORPTION

The use of irrigating solutions is widely accepted as a necessary adju nct to biomechanical preparation to obtain adequate cleansing of the r oot canal system. In this study, the efficiency of three solutions was tested in an in vitro experimental system for the removal of protein from apatite surfaces: Salvizol (a bis-dequalinium acetate solution) a nd sodium hypochlorite at 0. 5, 1, 3 and 6% at pH 7.4 and 11.5. Buffer ed Tris-HCl solutions at pH 7.4 and 11.5 were used as controls. All ch emicals showed rapid kinetic effects since no variation of the process could be detected after 5 min. Salvizol was the least efficient solut ion since it induced only a 2% protein desorption. Sodium hypochlorite efficiency increased with concentration to reach a 70% protein desorp tion from the apatite surface. In general, alkaline solutions were mor e efficient than buffered ones, and the ionic strength did not appear to have a major effect on the protein desorption process.