PH Reversal following in vitro bleaching of pulpless teeth

Abstract

Following gutta-percha obturation of the root canals of 20 extracted human maxillary central incisors, a “walking bleach” paste was sealed into the pulp chambers with Cavit temporary restorations. This paste was replaced in 4 days by a thick paste of calcium hydroxide. Cervical cementum or dentin pH readigns were then recorded after 2, 4, and 11 days. The data were analyzed by use of the analysis of variance and the Newman-Keuls test. Replacing the walking bleach with a calcium hydroxide paste was shown to be an excellent means of changing the acid pH produced by the bleaching procedure to an alkaline pH. Following gutta-percha obturation of the root canals of 20 extracted human maxillary central incisors, a “walking bleach” paste was sealed into the pulp chambers with Cavit temporary restorations. This paste was replaced in 4 days by a thick paste of calcium hydroxide. Cervical cementum or dentin pH readigns were then recorded after 2, 4, and 11 days. The data were analyzed by use of the analysis of variance and the Newman-Keuls test. Replacing the walking bleach with a calcium hydroxide paste was shown to be an excellent means of changing the acid pH produced by the bleaching procedure to an alkaline pH.