The aim of the present study was to compare root surface
smear layer removal following topical application of
EDTA and
EDTA-T (
Texapon). Extracted human teeth had their cementum removed and were mechanically scaled. A total of 220 root specimens were obtained and were randomly assigned to the following groups: I-
saline solution (control), II-
EDTA; III-
EDTA-T. Groups II and III specimens were assigned to different
EDTA gel concentrations: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 24%.
Smear layer removal score was assessed for each specimen by scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that
EDTA and
EDTA-T gel led to a higher root surface
smear layer removal when compared to the control group. The 5%
EDTA gel also showed a higher
smear layer removal than the 15%, 20% and 24%
EDTA gels (p<0.05). No difference could be found between the different concentrations of
EDTA-T
gels tested (p>0.05).
EDTA gels had statistically significantly lower
smear layer scores than the
EDTA-T
gels for the 5% and 10% concentrations. The results suggested that topical application of
EDTA or
EDTA-T gel led to significant
smear layer removal of the mechanically treated root surfaces. The addition of a
detergent to the
EDTA gel formula did not improve
smear layer removal of the root surface.