Effect of Calcium Hydroxide on the Microhardness of Root Dentin of Primary Tooth

Calcium hydroxide mixture medicaments can nearly be considered to be the ideal primary tooth filling material. However, long-term application of calcium hydroxide combinations as an intra canal medicament softens dentin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium hydroxide on the microhardness of root dentin of primary tooth. For the study, 60 extractedprimary incisors were divided into 3 groups (no medicament, calcium hydroxide/iodorform mixture, and calcium hydroxide/distilled water mixture). After the cleansing and shaping of canals, calcium hydroxide medicaments were applied and stored for different periods of time (1, 7, 30, 90 days). The root was horizontally sectioned into 2 mm thick specimens and the microhardness was measured using Vickers microhardness tester. The results were as follows : Root dentin microhardness of primary teeth decreased with long term exposure to calcium hydroxide medicaments according to the experimental period and showed statistically significance (p