Efficiency of different halogen compounds for preservation of enamel during decalcification procedures

Introduction: Decalcification is the commonly employed technique in histopathology laboratories as a part of calcified tissue preparation for the microscopic examination. Chemical agents are most commonly used for routine decalcification procedures, though some agents adversely affect the tissue integrity and staining properties. Aim: To compare the efficacy of various decalcifying agents by histological evaluation of hard and soft tissue components of teeth. Materials and Methods: The decalcifying agents namely 10% Nitric acid (HNO3) were used to decalcify 60 human permanent teeth. The specimens were subjected to routine processing, sectioning and staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The stained sections were observed under microscope . Results: Considering preservation and staining characteristics of both hard and soft tissues, superior results were obtained with 10% HNO3. Conclusion: HNO3 was showing the most efficient result as it balances both tissue integrity and time factor suggesting that it can be used as a stable decalcifying agent for routine histopathological diagnosis.