Surface Analysis of Citric Acid and EDTA on Root Canal Dentin-An In Vitro Study

Aim: To analyse the effect of 10% citric acid and 17% EDTA in removing the smear layer on ischolar_main canal dentin using scanning electron microscope.

Materials and Method: 15 Single ischolar_mained extracted teeth were decoronated and randomnly divided into 3 groups based on the irrigant used, 10% citric acid, 17% EDTA and saline. Root canals were enlarged till size 80 K file and Gates glidden drill No 5 with the respective irrigant. Longitudinally teeth were split into two halves. Final irrigation with their respective irrigant for 30 minutes, washed in distilled water and dried. Samples were examined under scanning electron microscope and photographs were taken at 2000x and 3000x magnification. Images were scored based on the presence of smear layer. Scores were statistically analysed by kruskal wallis test and Mann-Whitney test and considered to be significant when p<0.05.

Results: Kruskal-wallis and Mann-Whitney test between the test samples show that there is a significant difference between the effect of saline and Citric acid. The difference between citric acid and EDTA is minimal (p= 0.008).

Conclusion: This study can be concluded that the use of 10% citric acid could be a good alternative to EDTA as a ischolar_main canal irrigant because of the similar desmearing properties. Citric acid has added advantages like less cytotoxicity, anti microbial property and the weakening of ischolar_main canal dentin is less.