The diversity of bacterial species that colonize the root canals present a broad variety of polysaccharides which serve as adhesion biomolecules to the dentin tissue. Several authors have evaluated in an in vitro environment the addition of the amphoteric surfactant Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC) to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as irrigating solution for root canals and have made some observations about the improvement in the irrigant penetration into the dentinal tubules which leads to an increment in the antimicrobial effect. Nevertheless, the possible interactions between this solution and the irrigant agents used in the endodontic treatment have not been investigated yet. Aim: The evaluation of the physicochemical interactions between the mixture of NaOCl 2.4%/BAC 0.008% and irrigating solutions utilized in the root canal cleaning process. Methods: For this study dilutions of the following solutions were made: Technical degree sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at 6% to a 3% and 2.4% diluted solution, Clorox® in integrated concentration at a 1: 1 dilution, Chloralex® in integrated concentration at a 1: 1 dilution, BAC 10% solution diluted to BAC 5%, 3%, 1% and 0.008%, Chlorhexidine (CHX) 2% and Ethylenediaminetetracetic Acid (EDTA) 17% were also used. Approximately 60 ± 15 ml of each of these solutions were deposited in beakers to measure its pH and temperature. Subsequently, 2 ml of each solution were deposited in test tubes, once all the solutions were placed the mixture was left to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to observe possible physical and chemical changes as: precipitate formation, color changes, gas release and exothermic reactions.
The diversity of bacterial species that colonize the root canals present a broad variety of polysaccharides which serve as adhesion biomolecules to the dentin tissue. Several authors have evaluated in an in vitro environment the addition of the amphoteric surfactant Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC) to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as irrigating solution for root canals and have made some observations about the improvement in the irrigant penetration into the dentinal tubules which leads to an increment in the antimicrobial effect. Nevertheless, the possible interactions between this solution and the irrigant agents used in the endodontic treatment have not been investigated yet. Aim: The evaluation of the physicochemical interactions between the mixture of NaOCl 2.4%/BAC 0.008% and irrigating solutions utilized in the root canal cleaning process. Methods: For this study dilutions of the following solutions were made: Technical degree sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at 6% to a 3% and 2.4% diluted solution, Clorox® in integrated concentration at a 1: 1 dilution, Chloralex® in integrated concentration at a 1: 1 dilution, BAC 10% solution diluted to BAC 5%, 3%, 1% and 0.008%, Chlorhexidine (CHX) 2% and Ethylenediaminetetracetic Acid (EDTA) 17% were also used. Approximately 60 ± 15 ml of each of these solutions were deposited in beakers to measure its pH and temperature. Subsequently, 2 ml of each solution were deposited in test tubes, once all the solutions were placed the mixture was left to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to observe possible physical and chemical changes as: precipitate formation, color changes, gas release and exothermic reactions.
