Aim
To compare the dissolution time of two solutions, a fluoride solution and a sodium hypochlorite solution, both saturated with sodium chloride, during the electrochemical dissolution of instruments consisting of conventional nickel‐titanium alloy and Gold thermomechanically treated nickel‐titanium alloy.
Methodology
Two solutions, an NaF solution consisting of 12 g L−1 NaF with 180 g L−1 NaCl and an NaOCl solution consisting of 2.5% NaOCl with 180 g L−1 NaCl, were evaluated in a polarization test of a sample of 48 ProTaper Universal F1 (PTU F1) and WaveOne Gold Small (WOGS) instruments. The electric potentials were 0.5 V and 5 V for the NaF and NaOCl solutions, respectively. The electrochemical cell consisted of three electrodes for the polarization test of the PTU F1 and WOGS instruments, which had 6 mm of the tip immersed in the test solutions. The electric current was recorded for 540 s. If complete dissolution of the immersed tip occurred in less than the expected time, the experiment was considered complete. The time variations (in seconds) of the instruments in the solutions were measured. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests. The corrosion patterns of the instruments were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results
The NaF and NaOCl solutions were associated with significantly different (P = 0.000) dissolution times of the instrument, with mean values of 12.96 s and 83.63 s, respectively. There was no significant difference (P = 0.649) in dissolution time between the PTU F1 and WOGS instruments.
Conclusions
NaF and NaOCl solutions were able to electrochemically dissolve PTU F1 and WOGS instruments. However, the NaF solution achieved dissolution in significantly less time.