title: Dissolution of pulp tissue by aqueous solution of chlorhexidine digluconate and chlorhexidine digluconate gel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the activity of various root canal irrigants on bovine pulp tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The irrigants tested were: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite; 2% aqueous solution of chlorhexidine digluconate; 2% chlorhexidine digluconate gel (Natrosol); and distilled water as control. Bovine pulp fragments were weighed and placed in contact with 20 mL of each tested substance in a centrifuge at 150 r.p.m. until total dissolution. Dissolution speed was calculated by dividing pulp weight by dissolution time. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distilled water and both solutions of chlorhexidine did not dissolve the pulp tissue within 6 h. Mean dissolution speeds for 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solutions were 0.31, 0.43 and 0.55 mg min(-1), respectively. The solvent ability of chlorhexidine solutions was similar to that of distilled water. The results for sodium hypochlorite solutions, chlorhexidine solutions and distilled water were statistically different (P>0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both chlorhexidine preparations and distilled water were not able to dissolve pulp tissue. All sodium hypochlorite solutions were efficient in dissolving pulp tissue; the dissolution speed varied with the concentration of the solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. lieni@ig.com.br
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Okino
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bombana
authors.forename: J A P
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005782:Gels; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D005782:Gels; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine