Reinforcement mechanism of dentin mechanical properties by intracanal medicaments.

The reinforcement mechanism of dentin mechanical properties by intracanal medicaments was investigated. The dumbbell-shaped specimens were prepared from a collagen sheet, demineralized dentin and organic dissolved dentin. After immersing the specimens in intracanal medicaments (eugenol and formocresol), the tensile test was carried out in 37 degrees C water and the Vickers hardness test was performed. The tensile strengths increased after eugenol and formocresol immersion, especially collagen and organic dissolved dentin after formocresol immersion and demineralized dentin after eugenol immersion. Thus, formocresol immersion might have reinforced the dentin tensile strength by protein coagulation, while eugenol immersion might have reinforced the dentin tensile strength by not only protein coagulation but also chelation with hydroxyapatite. However, the hardness values did not significantly change after intracanal medicament immersion.