This study evaluated the effect of previous irrigation with chlorhexidine (CHX) on the bond strength of a calcium silicate-based material, Biodentine, when used for furcal repair. Furcal perforations were produced in 30 extracted mandibular molars. Teeth were divided into 3 groups according to the irrigant used: distilled water (DW), CHX followed by DW (CHX), and CHX followed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and DW (CHX/EDTA). Biodentine was used to repair the perforations. A push-out bond strength test was performed after 7 days, and data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (P < 0.05). The CHX/EDTA group showed significantly lower values than the DW and CHX groups (P < 0.05). The failure mode of the DW group was mainly mixed, while that of the CHX group was cohesive. The CHX/EDTA group exhibited adhesive and mixed failures. Irrigation with CHX prior to furcation repair did not result in a statistically significant difference, compared to the use of DW, in the push-out bond strength of Biodentine.
Keywords: chlorhexidine; dentin; root canal irrigants; shear strength; tricalcium silicate.