A comparative study of the softening abilities of three  gutta-percha solvents used during endodontic retreatment:

Ruby Yayra Goka; Ebenezer Anno Nyako; Patrick Caldicock Ampofo; Sandra Ama Hewlett; Alexander Oti Acheampong; Akua Boakyewaa Konadu; Thomas Akuetteh Ndanu; Stephen Ekow Ankoh; Nana Frimpomah Adu-Ampomah

doi:10.46829/hsijournal.2024.12.6.2.969-976

Ruby Yayra Goka Dental Department, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho, Ghana
Ebenezer Anno Nyako Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Patrick Caldicock Ampofo Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Sandra Ama Hewlett Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Alexander Oti Acheampong Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, KNUST School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kumasi, Ghana
Akua Boakyewaa Konadu Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Thomas Akuetteh Ndanu Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Stephen Ekow Ankoh Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Nana Frimpomah Adu-Ampomah Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2024.12.6.2.969-976

Keywords: Endodontic Retreatment, Chloroform, Eucalyptol, D-Limonene, GUTTA-PERCHA Solvent

Abstract

Background: The chemomechanical removal of gutta-percha involves the use of solvents, which serve as an adjunct to mechanical instrumentation during Root Canal Treatment (RCT). The most commonly used solvents for softening gutta-percha are Chloroform and Eucalyptol. Due to some unfavourable properties, their usage in the dental setting is debatable. D-limonene is an essential oil which has fewer undesirable properties when utilised as a gutta-percha solvent.
Objective: This study sought to determine whether D-Limonene had comparable gutta-percha softening properties with Eucalyptol and Chloroform.
Methods: This study was a prospective comparative study. Extracted single-rooted teeth were root-treated using the rotary ProTaper system and stored in normal saline for three months. The teeth were randomly assigned to the three solvent groups, and root-filling removal was performed using K-files and solvents. The median initial penetration depth of the K-file into the softened gutta-percha, the median amounts
of additional drops of solvent used, and the median of the total time used to remove all the gutta-percha obturating material from the root canal were statistically evaluated for each of the solvents. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the medians with the statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: D-Limonene utilised the least number of additional drops of solvent (p < 0.001) during the gutta-percha removal process, while chloroform utilised the greatest number of additional drops of solvent. There was no statistical difference between the three solvents in the initial penetration depth of the K-file into the gutta-percha and the total time it took to completely remove all gutta-percha from the root canals.
Conclusion: Smaller volumes of D-Limonene produced comparable results as Eucalyptol and Chloroform in the softening and removal of gutta-percha during re-endodontic treatment.