Physical properties of AH Plus with chlorhexidine and cetrimide.

Introduction: The use of root canal filling materials with antibacterial activity could be considered beneficial to reduce any remaining microorganisms and prevent recurrent infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties of AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany) alone and mixed with 1% or 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5% of cetrimide (CTR); and combinations of both.

Methods: Setting time, flow, solubility, and radiopacity of AH Plus and modified AH Plus were evaluated following the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association's requirements (ANSI/ADA Specification No. 57/2000). Five samples of each material were tested for each property. The hypothesis of equality among groups was rejected by an analysis of variance test, and then a post hoc Tukey test was performed.

Results: AH Plus and modified AH Plus gave values that are within the required standards. Overall, results indicate that CTR increased setting time, but CHX alone and CHX + CTR reduced it. CHX increased the flow, whereas CTR reduced it, and their combinations gave intermediate values comparable with those of AH Plus. Concerning solubility, the weight loss in all samples was under the 3% limit set by the ANSI/ADA. In comparison with AH Plus alone, radiopacity gave slightly lower values with CHX, higher values with CTR, and similar values with combinations.

Conclusions: The addition of CHX, CTR, and combinations of both to AH Plus did not alter the physical properties specified by ANSI/ADA requirements.