Influence of Two Different Chitosan Modified Intracanal Medicaments on Fracture Resistance of Root Dentin: An in-vitro comparative evaluation.

Aims & Background: This study aimed to compare and evaluate the fracture resistance of root dentin treated with Triphala and Modified Triple Antibiotic Paste (MTAP) mixed with Chitosan. Materials and Methods: Forty (40) single rooted human mandibular premolar teeth with single canal were chosen for this study. The teeth were sectioned to obtain a root length of 10mm. The canals were prepared till F3 Protaper Gold and irrigated with normal saline. The samples were then divided in four groups with each group having 10 teeth(n=10). Group A (Positive Control) was left untreated. Group B (Negative Control) was treated with Calcium Hydroxide. Then the root canals of two test groups were filled with the respective intracanal medicaments i.e. Triphala+Chitosan (Group C), MTAP+Chitosan (Group D). All the groups were sealed with temporary restorative material. The samples were stored in 100% humidity at 37°C for 15 days. After which they were mounted in self-cure acrylic resin till 5mm of root was exposed and then subjected to fracture resistance test in a universal testing machine and the data was tabulated and analyzed with SPSS software v.25 using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s HSD test. Results: Untreated i.e. Positive Control Group (1206.80 ± 63.33 N) shows highest fracture resistance followed by Triphala+Chitosan Group (1147.70 ± 54.58 N) and MTAP+Chitosan Group (1062.20 ± 59.66 N).  Calcium Hydroxide i.e. Negative Control Group (895.90 ± 65.11 N) has the lowest fracture resistance. Conclusion: Both Triphala and MTAP combined with Chitosan enhances the fracture resistance of root dentin than Calcium Hydroxide and thus can be considered as an adjunct in endodontic therapy. Further research needs to be conducted in in-vivo setup to gather more evidence. Clinical Significance: The modified intracanal medicaments with chitosan may improve fracture resistance, leading to better clinical outcomes for endodontically treated teeth, especially in high-stress bearing areas.