Substantivity of chlorhexidine to human dentin.

OBJECTIVES: To better comprehend the role of CHX in the preservation of resin-dentin bonds, this study investigated the substantivity of CHX to human dentin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dentin disks (n=45) were obtained from the mid-coronal portion of human third molars. One-third of dentin disks were kept mineralized (MD), while the other two-thirds had one of the surfaces partially demineralized with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 s (PDD) or they were totally demineralized with 10% phosphoric acid (TDD). Disks of hydroxyapatite (HA) were also prepared. Specimens were treated with: (1) 10 microL of distilled water (controls), (2) 10 microL of 0.2% chlorhexidine diacetate (0.2% CHX) or (3) 10 microL of 2% chlorhexidine diacetate (2% CHX). Then, they were incubated in 1 mL of PBS (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). Substantivity was evaluated as a function of the CHX-applied dose after: 0.5 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 168 h (1 week), 672 h (4 weeks) and 1344 h (8 weeks) of incubation. CHX concentration in eluates was spectrophotometrically analyzed at 260 nm. RESULTS: Significant amounts of CHX remained retained in dentin substrates (MD, PPD or TDD), independent on the CHX-applied dose or time of incubation (p<0.05). High amounts of retained CHX onto HA were observed only for specimens treated with the highest concentration of CHX (2%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The outstanding substantivity of CHX to dentin and its reported effect on the inhibition of dentinal proteases may explain why CHX can prolong the durability of resin-dentin bonds.