Calcium Silicate-based Intracanal Medication: Physicochemical Properties and Effectiveness of Techniques for Removing Medication from the Human Root Canal

Abstract

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the physicochemical properties of Bio-C Temp (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), a bioceramic intracanal medication, and whether its residues remain adhered to dentine walls after conventional manual irrigation (CMI) or passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) in comparison to the Calen (SS. White, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil). Methods: The pH after 12 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days and the flow, radiopacity, and solubility of the medications after immersion for 7 and 30 days in distilled water (dH2O) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution were evaluated. Filling capacity and volumetric changes after 14 days were assessed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The residues of medications after CMI or PUI were analysed with scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test, Student’s t-test, or the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-hoc test (α=0.05). Results: Bio-C Temp presented lower pH, flow, volumetric change, and weight loss after immersion in PBS on the 7th and 14th days (p<0.05) and greater radiopacity and filling capacity (p<0.05) than Calen. Both medications showed lower solubility in PBS than in dH2O (p<0.05). There was no difference in the residue content of the two medications between the two irrigation methods in three-thirds of the roots (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although Bio-C Temp had less volumetric loss and satisfactory filling capacity, this medication provided lower alkalinity than Calen. Furthermore, neither CMI nor PUI completely removed the medicament residues within the human root canal.