Eighty bovine incisors were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 10): group 1, 0.9% sodium chloride (control); group 2, 5.25% NaOCl + 17% EDTA (NaOCl + EDTA); group 3, 5.25% NaOCl + 17% EDTA + 10% ascorbic acid (NaOCl + EDTA + AA); group 4, 5.25% NaOCl + 17% EDTA + 10% sodium ascorbate (NaOCl + EDTA + SA); group 5, 5.25% NaOCl (NaOCl); group 6, 17% EDTA; group 7, 10% ascorbic acid (AA); and group 8, 10% sodium ascorbate (SA). Teeth were chemomechanically prepared, submitted to histologic processing, and stained with Sirius Red dye to be analyzed under polarized light microscopy. Absorbance assay was also performed to confirm the loss of collagen.
NaOCl + EDTA and NaOCl groups presented a significantly different birefringence pattern compared with the control group (
It is possible to conclude that 5.25% NaOCl, whether associated or not with 17% EDTA, causes birefringence alterations and loss of dentin collagen. These alterations reduced the ability of Sirius Red to bind with collagen fiber molecules. The reductions in the optical retardation values could be reversed by the application of either 10% ascorbic acid or 10% sodium ascorbate after 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA irrigation.