title: Longitudinal and quantitative evaluation of dentin demineralization when subjected to EDTA, EDTAC, and citric acid: a co-site digital optical microscopy study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study the chelating power of EDTA, EDTAC, and 1% citric acid (CA) on radicular dentin was quantitatively analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine maxillary human molars were selected from which 3-mm thick discs were obtained at the root cervical third, and a standardized smear layer was produced. Co-site image sequences of the dentine surface submitted to 17% EDTA, EDTAC, and 1% CA were obtained after several cumulative demineralization times. Sixteen images were obtained in each dentine sample for each experimental time, at x1000 magnification. An image processing and analysis sequence measured tens of images, providing data of area fraction for thousands of tubules over time. Thus, it was possible to follow the phenomenon and quantitatively analyze the effect of the various substances. The Student t test was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data revealed that the demineralization kinetics promoted by 1% CA was much faster than by EDTA and EDTAC. However, there is no significant difference between 1% CA and EDTA at 300 seconds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EDTA had an intermediate performance between 1% CA and EDTAC. The current results implied different dentin reaction modes for the 3 chelating agents tested what might affect the efficiency of the chemomechanical preparation when these agents are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Veiga de Almeida University (UVA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. endogus@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De-Deus
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fidel
authors.forename: Rivail Antonio Sergio
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fidel
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paciornik
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007700:Kinetics; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D019343:Citric Acid; C033443:EDTAC; D004492:Edetic Acid