Effect of intracanal medicaments on radicular dentine: An attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of proton-pump inhibitor, triple antibiotic paste, and calcium hydroxide on the chemical arrangement of radicular dentine by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and its effect on dentine matrix of root canal under scanning electron microscopy. Materials and Methods: Eighteen mandibular premolars were sectioned to obtain 72 radicular dentine discs and exposed to triple antibiotic paste (tripaste), proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), calcium hydroxide (CH) paste, and deionized water (control) for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. FTIR analyzes the relative loss of organic and inorganic components using phosphate/amide I ratios of all samples. Results: Data obtained were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc comparisons. There was a significant difference in phosphate/amide I ratios for all the specimen statistically. Higher phosphate/amide I ratio was seen in sample treated with triple antibiotic paste (TAP) for 4 weeks as compared to 1 week (P = 0.24) and 2 weeks treated dentine (P = 0.34). The phosphate/amide I ratio of 1 week treated dentine was significantly higher than that of 2 weeks treated dentine. Sample treated with PPI for 4 weeks had lower phosphate/amide I ratio as compared to 1 week (P = 0.08) and 2 weeks treated dentine (P = 0.34), but there was no significant difference in 1 week and 2 weeks treated dentine. There was no significant effect of time for CH-treated dentine or in control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: All medicaments caused demineralization of radicular dentine depending on the duration of time. PPI caused maximum demineralization when treated for longer duration as compared to the use of TAP and CH.