Maria Teresa Arias‐Moliz

The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of diclofenac sodium solutions, with or without cetrimide (CTR) added, against polymicrobial root canal biofilms grown in dentin specimens. The study groups were: (1) 5% diclofenac sodium (DCS); (2) 2.5% DCS; (3) 2.5% DCS + 0. 2% CTR; (4) 2.5% DCS + 0.4% CTR and (5) 0.9% saline solution (SS) as the control. After 5 min of solution contact with the biofilms, the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by means of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Microbial quantification was indicated as the percentage reduction of relative light units (RLUs) for the ATP assay, the Log 10 total biovolume and the viability percentage (green cells) for CLSM. Solutions of 2.5% DCS + 0.4% CTR and 5% DCS showed the highest antimicrobial efficacy. Cetrimide increased the antibiofilm activity of diclofenac sodium against endodontic biofilms.

This study aimed to evaluate the removal of 2‐hydroxyisocaproic acid (HICA) from the root canal system and its effect on the bond strength of the mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). 126 single‐rooted teeth were divided into 3 experimental groups ( n = 36) that were treated with double antibiotic paste (DAP), HICA and calcium hydroxide (CH) and one control group ( n = 18). In the first part, 18 teeth from each experimental group ( n = 54) were examined to remove HICA from the root canal. In the second part, 72 teeth (3 experimental groups ( n = 54) and one control group ( n = 18)) were used for the evaluation of the push‐out bond strength of MTA. There was no statistically significant difference between HICA, DAP and CH residues ( p > 0.05). HICA group showed significantly less push‐out bond strength ( p < 0.05). DAP, HICA and CH could not be removed entirely from the root canal. HICA significantly reduced the bond strength of the MTA.