Evaluation of Fracture Resistance of Tooth Fragment Reattached with Cavity Disinfectants in Primary and Permanent Teeth: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate and a combination of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite with 10% ascorbic acid on fracture resistance of reattached fragments in primary and permanent anterior teeth.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An in vitro study was conducted on 102 extracted human anterior teeth (51 primary and 51 permanent), allocated into six groups (n = 17): Group A (primary incisors)-Conventional fragment reattachment, group B (primary incisors)-Chlorhexidine pretreatment, group C (primary incisors)-Sodium hypochlorite + ascorbic acid pretreatment, group D (permanent incisors)-Conventional fragment reattachment, group E (permanent incisors)-Chlorhexidine pretreatment, and group F (permanent incisors)-Sodium hypochlorite + ascorbic acid pretreatment. All specimens underwent standardized bonding, thermocycling (1,000 cycles, 5-55°C), and fracture testing in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (SPSS v25, IBM, USA).

RESULTS

In primary teeth, sodium hypochlorite-ascorbic acid showed the highest mean fracture resistance (54.63 ± 10.70 N), followed by chlorhexidine (52.43 ± 12.38 N) and conventional reattachment (43.19 ± 9.38N), with statistically significant differences. In permanent teeth, chlorhexidine demonstrated the highest mean value (151.63 ± 25.05 N), followed by conventional reattachment (145.73 ± 29.08 N) and sodium hypochlorite-ascorbic acid (130.92 ± 20.15 N), with no statistically significant differences among groups.

CONCLUSION

Cavity disinfectants improve fracture resistance of reattached fragments, particularly in primary teeth. Sodium hypochlorite with ascorbic acid enhances bonding in primary dentition, while chlorhexidine provides consistent performance in both dentitions.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Appropriate selection of cavity disinfectants based on dentition can improve the clinical success of fragment reattachment. Sodium hypochlorite followed by ascorbic acid may be beneficial in primary teeth by enhancing fracture resistance, while chlorhexidine can be safely used in permanent teeth without adversely affecting bond strength. This approach may contribute to improved longevity of restorations in pediatric trauma management.