Effectiveness of Chloroform and Orange Oil as Gutta-percha Solvents used in Endodontic Retreatment: An In Vitro Study

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effectiveness of chloroform and orange oil to dissolve obturated materials during endodontic retreatment. Thirty extracted human permanent maxillary anterior teeth (10 central incisor, 10 lateral incisor and 10 canine) which fulfilled specific inclusion criteria were de-coronated and after biomechanical preparation using step-back technique obturated with gutta-percha and AH plus sealer and stored in 370C in 100% humidity for 2 weeks. Then the teeth were assigned into 2 groups randomly: Chloroform (n= 15) and Orange oil (n= 15). Solvents were applied to reservoir created on the coronal root third for 2 minutes. Then instrumentation was initiated to remove obturated materials using Hedstrom file until the master apical file size 40 for central incisor and canine and 35 for lateral incisor reach the working length. The time to reach the working length and the time to obtain the last debris were recorded. Data were collected and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. The results showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between two gutta-percha solvent groups in relation to time required to reach the working length by master apical file and time required to remove total obturated material from root canal. In conclusion, there was no statistically significant difference in effectiveness between chloroform and orange oil as gutta-percha solvent during retreatment procedure. So, orange oil can be used in retreatment procedure with the same efficacy of chloroform to dissolve obturated material in the root canal.