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Article in British dental journal official journal of the British Dental Association: BDJ online · June 2007
DOI: 10.1038/bdj.2007.374 · Source: PubMed
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Aqueous sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is widely used in dental practice during root canal treatment. Although it
is generally regarded as being very safe, potentially severe complications can occur when it comes into contact with soft
tissue. This paper discusses the use of sodium hypochlorite in dental treatment, reviews the current literature regarding
hypochlorite complications, and considers the appropriate management for a dental practitioner when faced with a poten-
tially adverse incident with this agent.
INTRODUCTION and corrosion of metals2 are its main cle reviews the potential complications
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was fi rst disadvantages in dental use. Sodium that can occur with sodium hypochlorite
recognised as an antibacterial agent hypochlorite reacts with fatty acids and in clinical practice, discusses measures
in 1843 when hand washing with amino acids in dental pulp resulting in that can be taken to minimise risk, and
hypochlorite solution between patients liquefaction of organic tissue.3 There is provides details of appropriate manage-
produced unusually low rates of infec- no universally accepted concentration of ment in the rare cases of suspected tis-
tion transmission between patients. sodium hypochlorite for use as an endo- sue damage.
It was fi rst recorded as an endodontic dontic irrigant. The antibacterial and
irrigant in 19201 and is now in routine tissue dissolution action of hypochlorite COMPLICATIONS OF ACCIDENTAL
worldwide use. increases with its concentration, but this SPILLAGE
Sodium hypochlorite is used as an is accompanied by an increase in tox- 1) Damage to clothing
endodontic irrigant as it is an effective icity. Concentrations used vary down Accidental spillage of sodium hypochlo-
antimicrobial and has tissue-dissolving from 5.25% depending on the dilution rite is probably the most common
capabilities. It has low viscosity allow- and storage protocols of individual prac- accident to occur during root canal irri-
ing easy introduction into the canal titioners. Solution warmers are available gation. Even spillage of minute quanti-
architecture, an acceptable shelf life, is to increase the temperature up to 60ºC. ties of this agent on clothing will lead to
easily available and inexpensive. The Increasing the temperature of a solution rapid, irreparable bleaching. The patient
toxicity of its action to vital tissues of hypochlorite improves the bactericidal should wear a protective plastic bib, and
and pulp dissolution activity, although the practitioner should exercise care
the effect of heat transfer to the adjacent when transferring syringes fi lled with
1
Associate Specialist in Oral Surgery, 2SHO in Oral tissues is uncertain.4 hypochlorite to the oral cavity.
and Maxillofacial Surgery, 3*Consultant Maxillofacial
Surgeon, Professor of Surgery, Queen Alexandra
As a bleaching agent, inadvertent spill-
Hospital, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY age of this agent can result in damage 2) Eye damage
*Correspondence to: Professor Peter Brennan to clothing and soft tissues. Inadvert- Seemingly mild burns with an alkali
Email: peter.brennan@porthosp.nhs.uk
ent introduction of sodium hypochlorite such as sodium hypochlorite can result
Refereed Paper beyond the root canal system may result in significant injury as the alkali reacts
Accepted 15 September 2006
DOI: 10.1038/bdj.2007.374
in extensive soft tissue or nerve damage, with the lipid in the corneal epithe-
© British Dental Journal 2007; 202: 555-559 and even airway compromise. This arti- lial cells, forming a soap bubble that
Table 1 Preventive measures that should be may be blurring of vision and patchy in suspected cases of sodium hypochlo-
taken to minimise potential complications
with sodium hypochlorite
colouration of the cornea.7 Immediate rite allergy during endodontic treatment
ocular irrigation with a large amount of has been confi rmed by Kaufman and
• Plastic bib to protect patient’s clothing water or sterile saline is required followed Keila.14 Even though allergy to sodium
by an urgent referral to an ophthalmolo- hypochlorite is rare, it is important for
• Provision of protective eye-wear for both
gist.8 The referral should ideally be made clinicians to recognise the symptoms of
patient and operator
immediately by telephone to the nearest allergy and possible anaphylaxis. These
• The use of a sealed rubber dam for isolation eye department. The use of adequate eye may include urticaria, oedema, shortness
of the tooth under treatment
protection during endodontic treatment of breath, wheezing (bronchospasm) and
• The use of side exit Luer-Lok needles for should eliminate the risk of occurrence hypotension. Urgent referral to a hos-
root canal irrigation of this accident, but sterile saline should pital following fi rst aid management is
• Irrigation needle a minimum of 2 mm short always be available to irrigate eyes recommended.
of the working length injured with hypochlorite. It has been
advised that eyes exposed to undiluted COMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM
• Avoidance of wedging the needle into the
root canal bleach should be irrigated for 15 minutes HYPOCHLORITE EXTRUSION BEYOND
with a litre of normal saline.9,10 THE ROOT APEX
• Avoidance of excessive pressure during
1) Chemical burns and tissue necrosis
irrigation
3) Damage to skin When sodium hypochlorite is extruded
Skin injury with an alkaline substance beyond the root canal into the peri-
Table 2 Emergency management of requires immediate irrigation with water radicular tissues, the effect is one of
accidental hypochlorite damage
as alkalis combine with proteins or fats in a chemical burn leading to a localised
Eye injuries tissue to form soluble protein complexes or extensive tissue necrosis. Given the
• Irrigate gently with normal saline. If normal or soaps. These complexes permit the widespread use of hypochlorite, this com-
saline is insufficient or unavailable, tap water
should be used
passage of hydroxyl ions deep into the plication is fortunately very rare indeed.
• Refer for ophthalmology opinion tissue, thereby limiting their contact with A severe acute inflammatory reaction of
the water dilutant on the skin surface. the tissues develops. This leads to rapid
Skin injuries Water is the agent of choice for irrigat- tissue swelling both intra orally within
• Wash thoroughly and gently with normal
saline or tap water ing skin and it should be delivered at low the surrounding mucosa and extra orally
pressure as high pressure may spread the within the skin and subcutaneous tis-
Oral mucosa injuries hypochlorite into the patient’s or rescu- sues. The swelling may be oedematous,
• Copious rinsing with water er’s eyes.5 haemorrhagic or both,15 and may extend
• Analgesia if required
• If visible tissue damage antibiotics to reduce beyond the region that might be expected
risk of secondary infection 4) Damage to oral mucosa with an acute infection of the affected
• If any possibility of ingestion or inhalation Surface injury is caused by the reac- tooth16,17 (Figs 1, 2). Sudden onset of pain
refer to emergency department tion of alkali with protein and fats as is a hallmark of tissue damage, and may
Inoculation injuries described for eye injuries above. Swal- occur immediately or be delayed for sev-
• Ice/cooling packs to swelling first 24 hours lowing of sodium hypochlorite requires eral minutes or hours.18 Involvement of
• Heat packs subsequently the patient to be monitored following the maxillary sinus will lead to acute
• Analgesia immediate treatment. It is worth noting sinusitis.19Associated bleeding into the
• Antibiotics to reduce the risk of secondary that skin damage can result from sec- interstitial tissues results in bruising
infection
• Request advice or management from Maxil- ondary contamination. and ecchymosis of the surrounding
lofacial Unit mucosa and possibly the facial skin (Fig.
• Arrange review if to be managed in dental Allergy to sodium hypochlorite 3) and may include the formation of a
practice
The allergic potential of sodium haematoma.15,20 A necrotic ulceration of
hypochlorite was fi rst reported in 1940 the mucosa adjacent to the tooth may
penetrates the corneal stroma. The alkali by Sulzberger11 and subsequently by occur as a direct result of the chemi-
moves rapidly to the anterior chamber, Cohen and Burns.12 Caliskan et al. pre- cal burn.21 This reaction of the tissues
making repair difficult. Further degen- sented a case where a 32-year-old female may occur within minutes or may be
eration of the tissues within the ante- developed rapid onset pain, swelling, delayed and appear some hours or days
rior chamber results in perforation, with difficulty in breathing and subsequently later.20,22 If these symptoms develop,
endophthalmitis and subsequent loss of hypotension following application of urgent telephone referral should be
the eye.5 0.5 ml of 1% sodium hypochlorite.13 made to the nearest maxillofacial unit.
Ingram recorded a case of accidental The patient required urgent hospitalisa- Patients will be assessed by the on call
spillage of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite tion in the intensive care unit and man- maxillofacial team. Treatment is deter-
into a patient’s eye during endodon- agement with intravenous steroids and mined by the extent and rapidity of the
tic therapy.6 The immediate symptoms antihistamines. A subsequent allergy soft tissue swelling but may necessitate
included instant severe pain and intense skin scratch test performed two weeks urgent hospitalisation and administra-
burning, profuse watering (epiphora) after the patient was discharged con- tion of intravenous steroids and antibi-
and erythema. Loss of epithelial cells in fi rmed a highly positive result to sodium otics.7,18 Although the evidence for the
the outer corneal layer may occur. There hypochlorite. The usefulness of this test use of antibiotics in these patients is
Dent Traumatol 1989; 5: 200-203. hypochlorite extrusion during root canal treat- Paediatric Dentistry. Management and root canal
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23. Serper A, Ozbek M, Calt S. Accidental sodium Regulations. (COSHH) 2002. 32. Spangberg L, Langeland K. Biological effect of
hypochlorite-induced skin injury during endodon- 28. Hales J J, Jackson C R, Everett A P et al. Treat- dental materials 1. Toxicity of root canal filling
tic treatment. J Endod 2004; 30: 180-181. ment protocol for the management of a sodium materials on HeLa cells in vitro. Oral Surg Oral Med
24. Ziegler D S. Upper airway obstruction induced by hypochlorite accident during endodontic therapy. Oral Pathol 1973; 35: 402-414.
a caustic substance found responsive to nebulised Gen Dent 2001; 49: 278-281. 33. Yesilsoy C, Whitaker E, Cleveland D et al. Anti-
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25. Moulin D, Bertrand J M, Buts J P et al. Upper its use as an endodontic irrigant. Aust Dent J 1998; potential root canal irrigants. J Endodont 1995;
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408-410. endodontics. pp 138-139. Oxford: Oxford Univer- logical evaluation of the efficacy of chlorhexidine
26. Bowden J R, Ethuandan M, Brennan P A. Life sity Press, 2005. in a sustained-release device for dentine sterilisa-
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