Comparative Evaluation of Nanosized Intracanal Medicaments on the Penetration and Fracture Resistance of Root Dentin: An In Vitro Study

The use of calcium hydroxide (CH) is crucial in the proper disinfection of root canals. However, CH affects the fracture resistance of root dentine and also has limited permeability. Nano-based intracanal medicaments have several benefits over traditional medicaments, including a greater surface area-to-volume ratio and better penetrability. Therefore, this in vitrostudy was performed to evaluate and compare the effect of conventional CH and various nanoparticle-based intracanal medicaments on the penetration and fracture resistance of radicular dentin. One hundred samples were taken and randomly divided into four (n=20) experimental groups (nano-CH (NCH), nano-chitosan (NCS), NCH + nano-silver (NAg), NCS + NAg, and a control group (CH). At the end of one month, out of the 20 samples from each group, 10 samples were used to assess the fracture resistance in a universal testing machine, and the other 10 samples were used to determine the depth of penetration using a field emission scanning electron microscope. The mean fracture resistance of root dentin value was the highest with group II (NCS) and the least in the control group (CH), which was statistically significant. The maximum penetration depth of intracanal medicaments was observed with group III (NCH + NAg) and the least in the control group (CH), which was statistically significant. Among the thirds of the root samples, the highest mean depth of penetration was seen in the coronal third and the least in the apical third in all the groups, which was statistically significant. The resistance to fracture and penetration depth at a four‑week interval were higher in nano forms when compared with conventional CH.