Pulpal response to topical application of citric acid to root dentin

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the pulpal reactions to citric acid (pH 1.0) applied for 3 min to exposed root dentin. We used 48 roots of 24 maxillary and mandibular third and fourth permanent premolars from dogs divided equally into experimental (citric acid) and control (saline) roots. Following surgical exposure of the buccal root surface and the removal of the cementum with a Gracey curette, citric acid or saline was applied on the exposed dentin. The pulpal reactions were histologically evaluated 1, 7 and 15 days postoperatively using hematoxylineosin stained sections. Results obtained from 43 specimens showed no difference in the pulpal response at any of the observation intervals between citric acid and saline-treated teeth.