Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel disinfecting material on the surface topography of gutta-percha: An in vitro study.

Abstract

The effect of chemical disinfection on gutta-percha (GP) has to be closely studied whether it affects surface topography and thereby causes leakage and reinfection of canals. The purpose of the study is to assess the surface topography of GP cones after disinfecting with a novel disinfecting material, graphene oxide (GO), and compare the same with other disinfecting materials, including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and silver nanoparticles (AgNps). After determining the power (0.84) of the study, 48 GP cones were taken and categorized into four different groups based on disinfecting agents. Forty-eight GP cones (ISO size 30 6% taper, DIADENT) were taken and are randomly selected and grouped as follows according to the disinfecting agents: Group 1 - control (untreated GP points, n = 12), Group 2 - NaOCl (n = 12), Group 3 - AgNPs (n = 12), and Group 4 - GO (n = 12), respectively. After treating with the above disinfecting materials, the surface topography of samples was evaluated using atomic force microscopy. The data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA and post hoc (Tukey's honestly significant difference) tests. IBM SPSS (version 21.0) software was used. The tests performed were one-way ANOVA and post hoc. Statistically, significance was set at a P ≤ 0.05. The root means square values and surface roughness values were lesser for the GO group and AgNPs when compared with the NaOCl group, which were statistically significant. Within the limitations of the study, this study had shown lesser surface topography deterioration of GP cones when treated with GO and AgNPs, whereas more deterioration was observed with NaOCl.