Electrochemical Dissolution of Stainless-Steel Files using Different Electrolytes: An in vitro Electrochemical Study

Abstract

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of electrochemical dissolution of stainless-steel #15 K-files in various irrigating solutions as well as their dissolution time. Materials and Methods: Twenty Dentsply Maillefer single-rooted endoblocks were used. A glide path was made up to a #15 K-file, and then, a ProTaper gold rotary instrument was used for preparation up to S1. Platinum wire electrodes, connecting wires, and a 9 V battery were used to form a circuit. Saline, 3% sodium hypochlorite, 17% EDTA liquid, and acidified hydrogen peroxide (HCl 10 g/L + H2O2 100 g/L) were all used to submerge the endoblocks. The samples were assessed for dissolution time using a stopwatch, and electrochemical studies were performed for corrosion analysis of different irrigants. Results: The fastest dissolution of the files was observed with sodium hypochlorite (2 min 47 s), followed by acidified hydrogen peroxide (9 min 36 s). The presence of chloride ions in electrolyte solutions has been shown to be a factor directly affecting the rate of dissolution. EDTA demonstrated resilience to corrosion. The electrochemical studies confirmed a corrosion affinity with NaOCl and acidified hydrogen peroxide. Conclusion: The best solutions for dissolving stainless-steel K-files are sodium hypochlorite and acidified hydrogen peroxide. For clinical application and assessment of soft tissue effects, more studies are required. Although electrochemical dissolution has potential, it needs to be further studied before it can be used in therapeutic settings.