Impact of different disinfection protocols on the bond strength of NeoMTA 2 bioceramic sealer used as a root canal apical plug (in vitro study).

Introduction: Treatment of an immature permanent tooth required a special disinfection protocol due to the presence of thin radicular walls, which are prone to fracture. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) has been proposed as a root repair material for root canal treatment. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the push-out bond strength of conventional White MTA cements and second generation NeoMTA 2 in imitated immature roots treated with different disinfection protocols, which are 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), followed by 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and NaOCl, followed by 20% etidronic acid (HEBP).

Methods: The root canals of freshly extracted single-root teeth were manually prepared until 90 K-file to imitate immature roots. Roots were randomly divided into four groups (G) according to the disinfection protocol (n = 15 per group). where G1 (NaOCl + EDTA + White MTA) and G2 (NaOCl + EDTA + NeoMTA 2) While G3 (NaOCl + HEBP + White MTA) and G4 (NaOCl + HEBP + NeoMTA 2) All groups were activated with manual agitation. All specimens were incubated for 48 h. The apical third of each root was perpendicularly sectioned to attain a slice of 3 mm thickness. Push-out bond strength values were assessed using a two-way ANOVA and a Student's t test.

Results: G3 and G4 that were treated with HEPB showed higher significant push-out bond strength mean values than G1 and G2 treated with an EDTA chelating agent. Irrespective of the chelating agent used, it was found that both NeoMTA 2 and White MTA had no significant influence on push-out bond strength mean values (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The combined use of 5.25% NaOCl and 20% HEBP increased the push-out strength values of both NeoMTA 2 and White MTA, rendering them suitable to be used as an alternative chelating agent to EDTA.