Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Endodontics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of maleic acid and lactic acid versus ethylene diamene tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) as root canal irrigants on root dentine microhardness of instrumented human root canal. Seventy eight straight, single rooted human teeth were standardized at 15 mm. Each canal was enlarged with rotary Nickel Titanium K3 0.06 taper up to file size # 40. The roots were divided into a control group (n = 12) and three experimental groups (n = 22 each) according to the final irrigant used; saline, 17% EDTA, 7% Maleic acid and 10% lactic acid. A total of 1 ml of each solution was used for 3 and 15 min. After irrigation, coronal section of 3 mm thickness was cut from each specimen. The microhardness of root dentine was determined with a vickers microhardness tester at two levels 0.5 mm and 1 mm from the canal wall. Data was statistically analyzed. A specimen was randomly taken from each subgroup, split after the irrigation regimens longitudinally for scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination

Issued also as CD