Effect of maleic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on the dissolution of human pulp tissue - an in vitro study

Ballal NV, Mala K, Bhat KS. Effect of maleic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on the dissolution of human pulp tissue - an in vitro study. International Endodontic Journal. Aim To compare in vitro, the tissue-dissolution capacity of 7% maleic acid (MA), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (positive control) and 0.9% saline (NaCl) (negative control) on human pulp tissue. Methodology Forty pieces of human pulp tissue, each weighing 0.026g, were divided randomly into four groups (n=10): (i) 7% MA solution, (ii) 17% EDTA solution, (iii) 2.5% NaOCl solution and (iv) 0.9% NaCl solution. The pulp tissue was placed in beakers containing the test solutions and then placed on a vibrator. Pulp tissue from the four experimental solutions was blotted dry and weighed after 30, 60, 90 and 120min. The percentage of weight loss was calculated, and the data were statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test. Results At all time intervals, 2.5% NaOCl dissolved pulp tissue significantly more than the other solutions (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the pulp-dissolution capacity between 7% MA and 17% EDTA at any of the time intervals. NaCl (0.9%) did not have any effect on pulp tissue. Conclusion Seven percentage of MA and 17% EDTA had minimal tissue-dissolution capacity when compared to NaOCl.