The effect of calcium hydroxide placement on pH and calcium concentration in periapical environment: an in vitro study

• Published in: Indian journal of dental research : official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research Vol. 23; no. 2; p. 226
• Main Authors: Barekatain, Behnaz, Hasheminia, Seyed Mohsen, Shadmehr, Elham, Attary, Zeinab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India 01-03-2012
• Subjects: Bicuspid - drug effects; Bicuspid - metabolism; Calcium - analysis; Calcium Hydroxide - pharmacology; Dental Pulp Cavity - drug effects; Dental Pulp Cavity - metabolism; Desiccation; Humans; Humidity; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Periapical Tissue - drug effects; Periapical Tissue - metabolism; Root Canal Irrigants - pharmacology; Root Canal Preparation - methods; Sodium Chloride - administration & dosage; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Temperature; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1998-3603

Comparing the calcium concentration and pH levels of Ca(OH) 2 medicament placing in pulp chamber and root canal.
Ninety-nine extracted human mandibular second premolars were instrumented to size #40 k file. Nine teeth served as the control group and the remaining teeth were assigned into two groups. Group 1-Ca(OH) 2 was placed in the dried pulp chamber, while root canals remained wet with normal saline; group 2-Ca(OH) 2 was placed in dried root canals. In control group, canals remained wet without medication. Each group was divided into 3 sub-groups of 15 teeth in which pH and calcium concentration were measured in three intervals of 2 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks by pH meter and atomic absorption spectrometer system, respectively. Findings were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and t-test.
At 1 and 2 weeks, the calcium concentration had increased without being significantly different from Ca(OH) 2 placed either in the root canal or in the pulp chamber. Ca(OH) 2 placed in the pulp chamber or root canal provided similar pH values (P=0.362).
Placing Ca(OH) 2 in pulp chamber is as effective as placing it in the root canal.