A Comparative Study of Decalcification using three Different Agents and their Quantitative End-point Estimation

Kamal Kiswani¹* and Ranjit Patil²

¹M.D.S., Dev's Oral Care, Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Maharashtra (India). ²Medical Biochemistry Department, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Jalgaon, Maharashtra (India).

ABSTRACT: The present study on decalcification includes following aims & objectives: 1) To compare the efficacy of modified 5 % EDTA solution (neutralized with 2 % ammonium hydroxide) with routinely used 5 % HNO3 & 5 % formic acid as decalcifying agents. 2) To quantitatively evaluate the optimum end-point with each of the above decalcifying agents & the total time required for decalcification. 3) To recommend the best decalcifying agent and determine its optimum end-point. Total 90 samples were selected randomly from different patients, divided in slots of 30, with age group 13-20 years, independent of sex. Modified EDTA solution (neutralized with 2% ammonium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide) was found to be the most effective decalcifying agents as compared to 5 % HNO3 & 5 % HCOOH. The decalcification time was considerably reduced (33-35 days). 5 % nitric acid was faster in its action (11-12 days) while 5 % formic acid was the intermediate one (16-18 days). The choice of decalcifying agent & method preferably should be largely dictated by the urgency of procedure i.e. whether biopsy report is awaited by the surgeon or purpose of study, time, & equipment available, etc. The method of end-point determination described in the study is a tool for quantitative evaluation of decalcification methods & an objective assessment of the methods and/or tissue-specific factors. Decalcification of teeth is not dependent on the sex of patient, arch trait, & type trait.

KEYWORDS: Decalcification; 5 % HNO3; 5 % HCOOH; 5 % EDTA

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