RESUMO
This study evaluated the effect of chitosan, zirconium oxide, and hydroxyapatite on the apatite-like forming ability, porosity, and bond-strength of calcium-aluminate cements (C). Three hundred bovine root-slices were assigned to one of five groups, according to the material: MTA, C, C + chitosan (Cchi), C + zirconium oxide (Czio), and C + hydroxyapatite (Chap), and within each group, two subgroups, according to the immersion: deionized water or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) up to 14 days. Assessments (n = 10) of apatite-like forming ability were performed using scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. PBS was evaluated for pH and Ca2+ release (n = 10). Bond-strength was analyzed by push-out test (n = 10) and porosity by micro-CT (n = 10). Chemical and push-out data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = .05). Porosity data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and SNK tests (α = .05). Similar Ca/P ratios were observed between all groups (p > .05). The pH of MTA and Cchi were higher than that of other cements at d 3 and 6 (p < .05). Cchi had a higher release of Ca2+ up to 6 days (p < .05). All cements had lower porosity after PBS (p < .05). Cchi and Chap had similar porosity reduction (p > .05), and were higher than MTA, C, and Czio (p < .05). Cchi had higher bond-strength than the other groups (p < .05). PBS samples had higher bond-strength (p < .05). All cements had hydroxyapatite deposition and the chitosan blend had the lowest porosity and the highest bond-strength.
