Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Two Commonly Used Irrigants on Bone: An Ex-Vivo Study

Introduction: The cause and effect of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate accidents on vital tissues like skin, subcutaneous tissues, nerves, periodontal tissues have been extensively addressed through case reports; however, the pathological changes in bone after the their inadvertent extrusion through apical foramen during routine root canal treatment have not been investigated. Learning more about physical and histologic changes in bone might lead to treatment protocol changes. The purpose of this study was to compare the histological effects of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate on the alveolar bone. Aim: To compare the effect of 3% Sodium hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate on goat bone. Objective: To assess the histopathological changes in the goat mandible exposed to 0.5ml of 3% Sodium hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate for a period of 30 minutes. Methods: A freshly cut goat mandible was obtained and immediately cut into 4 mm blocks which were further sectioned into 2x2x2mm blocks. Adjacent surface were selected for the shallow injection of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate and saline. Histopathological evaluation of the bone specimens were conducted under nine parameters. Results: Histologically, both sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate causes detrimental effects on bone. However, the results indicated that sodium hypochlorite, causes more degradation to the bone as compared to chlorhexidine gluconate. Calcified elements such as cortical bone remains unaffected.