Physical and chemical properties of chlorhexidine and calcium hydroxide-containing medications.

This study was performed to evaluate the physicochemical properties (pH, contact angle, working time, radio-opacity, and viscosity) of chlorhexidine (CHX) and calcium hydroxide-containing medications in gel form in different concentrations. The pH value was assessed with a pH meter. The contact angle was measured with a goniometer. The radio-opacity and working time measurements were taken in accordance with the standards of the International Organization for Standardization. The viscosity was evaluated using a Brookfield RVDV viscometer. The results showed that CHX did not affect the pH, radio-opacity, and working time of the calcium hydroxide-containing medications (p < 0.05). However, adding CHX lowered the contact angle and increased the viscosity of calcium hydroxide significantly. This research showed that CHX in different concentrations and in combination with calcium hydroxide has satisfactory physicochemical properties to be used as an intracanal medication.