Metalloproteinase-inhibiting agents, such as chitosan, can prevent collagen degradation in demineralized dental substrates, thereby improving the adhesive interface. This study evaluated the bond strength (BS) and chemical and morphological characterization of the adhesive interface after applying chitosan solution to demineralized dentin.

The 80 third molars were selected. Forty teeth underwent caries induction using the pH cycling method. The teeth were divided according to the treatment: distilled water (control) and 2.5% chitosan solution. The surfaces were restored using adhesive and composite resins. Half of the specimens in each group were aged, and the other half underwent immediate analyses. The teeth were sectioned and underwent the microtensile bond strength test (µTBS), and chemical and morphological analyses using energy-dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Data analysis was performed using 3-way analysis of variance.

For µTBS, sound dentin was superior to demineralized dentin (p < 0.001), chitosan-treated specimens had higher bond strength than the untreated ones (p < 0.001), and those that underwent immediate analysis had higher values than the aged specimens (p = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in the chemical or morphological compositions.

Chitosan treatment improved bond strength both immediately and after aging, even in demineralized dentin.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of ionic and non-ionic-based contrast media (in vitro study) and the combinatorial effect of chitosan-based endo-radiopaque solution (CERS) (in vivo study) for visualization of the root canal anatomy.

In vitro study (120 teeth): The root canal of maxillary premolars and molars (in vitro group 1 and 2 respectively, n = 60 each) were analyzed using 4 different contrast media (subgroups: Omnipaque 350, Iopamidol, Xenetix 350, and Urografin 76; n = 15 each) in combination with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Based on the results of the in vitro study, in vivo study (80 teeth) was done to compare Xenetix 350 + 5.25% NaOCl with CERS (in vivo group 1 and 2 respectively, n = 40 each) on maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars. Two endodontists used radiovisiography to assess the depth of ingress and identify the aberrant root anatomy after access cavity preparation, and after initial cleaning and shaping of canals. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for in vitro comparison (p < 0.05), and Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test for in vivo analysis (p < 0.01).

In vitro study, Xenetix 350 + 5.25% NaOCl facilitated a significant higher visualization (p < 0.05). For in vivo study, CERS had a statistically significant depth of ingress (p < 0.01), and was efficient in identifying the aberrant root canal anatomy of premolars and molars.

CERS facilitates better visualization of the root canal anatomy of human premolars and molars.

Chitosan has been widely investigated and used. However, the literature does not refer to the shelf life of this solution. This study evaluated, through the colorimetric titration technique and an analysis of dentin micro-hardness, the shelf life of 0.2% chitosan solution.

Thirty human canines were sectioned, and specimens were obtained from the second and third slices, from cemento-enamel junction to the apex. A 0.2% chitosan solution was prepared and distributed in 3 identical glass bottles (v1, v2, and v3) and 3 plastic bottles (p1, p2, and p3). At 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days, the specimens were immersed in each solution for 5 minutes (n = 3 each). The chelating effect of the solution was assessed by micro-hardness and colorimetric analysis of the dentin specimens. 17% EDTA and distilled water were used as controls. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison (α = 0.05).

There was no statistically significant difference among the solutions with respect to the study time (p = 0.113) and micro-hardness/time interaction (p = 0.329). Chitosan solutions and EDTA reduced the micro-hardness in a similar manner and differed significantly from the control group (p < 0.001). Chitosan solutions chelated calcium ions throughout the entire experiment.

Regardless of the storage form, chitosan demonstrates a chelating property for a minimum period of 6 months.

The use of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) in endodontics is of interest due to their antibiofilm properties. This study was to investigate the ability of bioactive CNPs to remove the smear layer and inhibit bacterial recolonization on dentin.

One hundred bovine dentin sections were divided into five groups (n = 20 per group) according to the treatment. The irrigating solutions used were 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 20 min, 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 3 min and 1.29 mg/mL CNPs for 3 min. The samples were irrigated with either distilled water (control), NaOCl, NaOCl-EDTA, NaOCl-EDTA-CNPs or NaOCl-CNPs. After the treatment, half of the samples (n = 50) were used to assess the chelating effect of the solutions using portable scanning electronic microscopy, while the other half (n = 50) were infected intra-orally to examine the post-treatment bacterial biofilm forming capacity. The biovolume and cellular viability of the biofilms were analysed under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The Kappa test was performed for examiner calibration, and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (p < 0.05) were used for comparisons among the groups.

The smear layer was significantly reduced in all of the groups except the control and NaOCl groups (p < 0.05). The CNPs-treated samples were able to resist biofilm formation significantly better than other treatment groups (p < 0.05).

CNPs could be used as a final irrigant during root canal treatment with the dual benefit of removing the smear layer and inhibiting bacterial recolonization on root dentin.

This study evaluated the antibacterial effect and mechanical properties of composite resins (L_CR, M_CR, H_CR) incorporating chitosan with three different molecular weights (L, Low; M, Medium; H, High).

Streptococcus (S). mutans 100 mL and each chitosan powder were inoculated in sterilized 10 mL Brain-Heart Infusion (BHI) solution, and was centrifuged for 12 hr. Absorbance of the supernatent was measured at OD₆₆₀ to estimate the antibacterial activities of chitosan. After S. mutans was inoculated in the disc shaped chitosan-containing composite resins, the disc was cleansed with BHI and diluted with serial dilution method. S. mutans was spread on Mitis-salivarius bacitracin agar. After then, colony forming unit (CFU) was measured to verify the inhibitory effect on S. mutans biofilm. To ascertain the effect on the mechanical properties of composite resin, 3-point bending and Vickers hardness tests were done after 1 and 3 wk water storage, respectively. Using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe test, statistical analysis was done with 95% significance level.

All chitosan powder showed inhibition effect against S. mutans. CFU number in chitosan-containing composite resins was smaller than that of control resin without chitosan. The chitosan containing composite resins did not show any significant difference in flexural strength and Vickers hardness in comparison with the control resin. However, the composite resin, M_CR showed a slightly decreased flexural strength and the maximum load than those of control and the other composite resins H_CR and L_CR.

L_CR and H_CR would be recommended as a feasible antibacterial restorative due to its antibacterial nature and mechanical properties.