Effect of calcium hydroxide removal techniques on the bond strength of root canal sealers

To evaluate the influence of calcium-hydroxide(CH) with different vehicles on the push-out bond strength of different canal sealers to radicular dentin. 152 decrowned single-rooted human teeth were used. After preparation of root canals with nickel-titanium rotary files, 8 roots served as control groups. Then, the roots were divided as follows: (1) Calasept and (2) Surepaste (n = 72). Roots were further subgrouped according to the CH removal techniques: (1) %17 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) + rotary file, (2) %17EDTA + hand file, and (3) %17EDTA (n = 24). Eight roots from each group sectioned longitudinally, divided into two pairs and photographed by stereomicroscope (n = 16). The remaining 16 roots in CH intracanal dressing groups were further divided into 2 subgroups according to the sealer used: (1) AH-Plus-jet and (2) Apexit-Plus (n = 8). Bond strengths of the root canal sealers to root canal dentin were measured using a push-out test setup. The data were statistically analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance p = 0.05. The push-out bond strength values were significantly affected by type of vehicle and the removal techniques (p < 0.05). The mean bond strength of AH-Plus-jet was significantly higher than Apexit-Plus, regardless of type of vehicle and the removal techniques (p < 0.05). There was no difference between vehicles on CH removal (p > 0.05). When examining the removal techniques, only irrigation with %17 EDTA left significantly larger amount of residue (p < 0.05). AH-Plus-jet showed better dislocation resistance than Apexit-Plus. Type of vehicle does not play a fundamental role in the degree of persistence of CH residues on the dentin walls. Instrumentation improves the removal efficiency of CH from root canal.