Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel disinfecting material on the surface topography of gutta-percha: An in vitro study

CONTEXT: The effect of chemical disinfection on gutta-percha (GP) has to be closely studied whether it affects surface topography and thereby causes leakage and reinfection of canals. AIMS: The purpose of the study is to assess the surface topography of GP cones after disinfecting with a novel disinfecting material, graphene oxide (GO), and compare the same with other disinfecting materials, including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and silver nanoparticles (AgNps). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: After determining the power (0.84) of the study, 48 GP cones were taken and categorized into four different groups based on disinfecting agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight GP cones (ISO size 30 6% taper, DIADENT) were taken and are randomly selected and grouped as follows according to the disinfecting agents: Group 1 – control (untreated GP points, n = 12), Group 2 – NaOCl (n = 12), Group 3 – AgNPs (n = 12), and Group 4 – GO (n = 12), respectively. After treating with the above disinfecting materials, the surface topography of samples was evaluated using atomic force microscopy. The data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA and post hoc (Tukey's honestly significant difference) tests. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: IBM SPSS (version 21.0) software was used. The tests performed were one-way ANOVA and post hoc. Statistically, significance was set at a P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The root means square values and surface roughness values were lesser for the GO group and AgNPs when compared with the NaOCl group, which were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the study, this study had shown lesser surface topography deterioration of GP cones when treated with GO and AgNPs, whereas more deterioration was observed with NaOCl.