title: Effect of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, MTAD™, and HEBP as a final rinse on the microhardness of root dentin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of microhardness of root dentin provides indirect information on the change in mineral content of root dentin thereby providing useful information on the bonding quality of resin-based root canal sealers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effect of 17% EDTA, MTAD, and 18% HEBP solutions on the microhardness of human root canal dentin using the Vickers microhardness test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty human single-rooted teeth were decoronated at the cementoenamel junction and sectioned longitudinally into buccal and lingual segments. Eighty specimens were divided into four groups (n=20). Group I was treated with distilled water (control), groups II, III, and IV were treated with 1.3% NaOCl as a working solution for 20 minutes followed by 17% EDTA, MTAD, and 18% HEBP respectively. The surface hardness of the root dentin was determined in each specimen with a Vicker's hardness tester. The values were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey multiple comparison tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistical significant difference among all the groups (one-way ANOVA; P<0.001). Among the experimental groups, HEBP showed the highest dentin microhardness (53.74 MPa, P<0.001). Least microhardness was found with MTAD (42.85 MPa, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HEBP as a final rinse appears to be a promising irrigation protocol with less impact on the mineral content of root dentin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences of Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Mukura Kulasekaran
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dineshkumar
authors.forename: Thilla Sekar
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Vinothkumar
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arathi
authors.forename: Partheeban
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shanthisree
authors.forename: Deivanayagam
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kandaswamy