In Vitro Assessment of pH and Surface Contact Angle of Triton as a Novel All-In-One Disinfectant

Introduction: This study compared the pH levels and surface wettability of conventional endodontic irrigants with Triton, a novel all-in-one solution. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), chlorhexidine (CHX), and Triton were tested. Materials and Methods: Each irrigant (10 mL) was stored in glass tubes (n=10). pH was measured with an electronic pH meter on days 1, 2, 5, 7, and 14, with three repeated measurements at each time point. For contact angle analysis, 26 extracted anterior teeth were sectioned, standardized, and exposed to the irrigants. Angles were measured using a goniometer device (SEO Phonix Contact Angle, Republic of Korea). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA followed by Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons (p<0.05). Results: Significant differences were found among irrigants for both pH and contact angle (p<0.05). All solutions showed lower pH values at day 14 compared to day 1 (p<0.05). In the Triton group, values at days 1, 2, and 5 were not significantly different, whereas decreases were observed at days 7 and 14 (p<0.05). CHX (14.73°) and NaOCl (15.82°) demonstrated the lowest contact angles, Triton an intermediate value (19.35°), and EDTA the highest (21.46°). Conclusion: Triton maintained stable pH values during the first week and provided satisfactory dentin wettability, superior to EDTA but lower than CHX and NaOCl. These properties support its potential as a next-generation irrigant that combines multiple functions in a single solution.