Evaluation of different therapeutic Carnoy's formulations on hard human tissues: a raman microspectroscopy, microhardness, and scanning electron microscopy study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate different therapeutic Carnoy's solution formulations on hard human tissues. Materials and methods: An in vitro study was performed with human teeth (n ¼ 36) and bone fragments (n ¼ 18), randomly divided into two experimental groups (Group I ¼ Carnoy solution with chloroform; Group II ¼ Carnoy solution without chloroform) and a control group (saline solution). The groups were subdivided into pre-conditioning, post-conditioning, and post-conditioning with saline washing. Raman microspectroscopy, Knoop microhardness test, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used. Results: Therewas demineralization of dental structures regardingmineral/matrix and carbonate/phosphate ratios (GI versus GII, p < 0.05). The presence of chloroform resulted in a statistically significant reduction of the teeth surface microhardness (p ¼ 0.036), but not exceeding 0.01 mm. Both GI and GII showed significant structural changes by using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Conclusion: Carnoy's solution altered the organic and inorganic matrix of the human calcified specimens analyzed in vitro, and its effect was more pronounced when chloroform was present.