Effect of root canal irrigating solutions on the compressive strength of tricalcium silicate cements

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of root canal irrigants on the compressive strength of hydraulic tricalcium silicate cements. Specimens (n = 60) of tricalcium silicate materials-Group 1: White ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Group 2: NeoMTA Plus, Group 3: White MTA Angelus, and Group 4: Biodentine were exposed to one of the solutions (n = 20): Phosphate buffered saline (PBS; control), 3 % NaOCl, or 17 % EDTA for 5 min while being suspended in PBS. Compressive strength values were evaluated after 7 days of storage. The data were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test (P = 0.05). Biodentine (BD) showed significantly higher compressive strength than the other materials (P < 0.05) in the control group. When exposed to NaOCl, compressive strength of WMTA and WMTA-A decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while EDTA decreased the compressive strength of all the cements compared to the control (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the compressive strength of BD and NMTA-P when exposed to NaOCl or EDTA. Biodentine and NeoMTA Plus did not show a significant reduction in compressive strength when exposed to NaOCl. EDTA reduced the compressive strength of the cements tested. Tricalcium silicates were differentially influenced by root canal irrigants. It is essential to understand the composition of these materials prior to clinical use. Traces of irrigants from the root canal wall must be thoroughly removed.