IMPACT OF INTRACANAL MEDICAMENTS ON PERIAPICAL PH AND THEIR BEHAVIOR IN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENTS: AN IN VITRO ANALYSIS

The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the pH changes that occurred over a period of 7 days using calcium hydroxide, Metapex and Ledermix & Calcium hydroxide combination and to compare the effect of contamination in a simulated periapical environment. The materials were filled in extracted premolar roots, which were suspended in individual vials containing distilled water at a pH of 7.4. Digital pH-meter was used to measure the pH of different groups at half an hr, 1 hr, 4 hr, 1 day, 2 days 3 days & 7 days after immersion of the specimens. The mean pH was found for all groups and statistical analysis was carried out using repeated Measure ANOVA. Combination of medicaments did affect the pH of calcium hydroxide significantly. Calcium hydroxide was found to significantly raise the pH of the surrounding medium with and without contamination of root canals compared to combination medicaments. Therefore calcium hydroxide is an effective choice in clinical practice where seepage of pus into the root canal between appointments