Comparative Evaluation of Novel Calcium Hydroxide-hydrogel with Calcium Hydroxide-iodoform as Obturating Material: A Protocol for an In-vitro Study

Introduction: Pulpectomy is one of the extensively done procedures in clinical practice, in which the pulp is extirpated, and the canal is filled with an obturating material. Modalities of pulp therapy in primary teeth are subtly different from that of permanent teeth, and so are the obturating materials. Calcium hydroxide has an optimum antimicrobial effect on the root canal of teeth. The success rate for Ca(OH)2-iodoform paste ranges from 84% to 100%. A mixture of calcium hydroxide with iodoform is conventionally used due to its strong antibacterial property, but, high resorptive activity leads to increased periapical radiolucency in the long term. Chitosan, a hydrogel, is antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Aim: To prepare, optimise and characterise novel calcium hydroxide-hydrogel as an obturating material and compare it with conventional calcium hydroxide-iodoform.

Materials and Methods: The present in-vitro study will be carried out at Sharad Pawar Dental College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Chitosan-calcium hydroxide hydrogel will be formulated by soaking commercially available chitosan in 2% acetic acid solution. Calcium hydroxide will be added to this base in different concentrations for each sample and mixed in a magnetic stirrer. Twenty samples of calcium hydroxide-hydrogel will be formulated and divided into three groups with concentration of 0.1, 0.55 and 1% w/v respectively and a control group with calcium hydroxide-iodoform will also be evaluated. Calcium ion release shall be checked through infrared spectroscopy techniques and pH through pH meter at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. To evaluate, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by post- a hog test will be used.

Expected Results: Various composition of Calcium hydroxide- hydrogel might prove to be better obturating material when compared to conventional Calcium hydroxide-iodoform paste.

Conclusion: Within the scope of this study, Calcium hydroxide-hydrogel can be a potential alternative to the available obturating materials for primary teeth.