Decalcification Agents for Histological Analysis of Human Dental Tissues: A Review

Abstract

Background: In histopathology laboratories, fixation and decalcification are essential steps that are carried out during the processing of mineralised tissues such as bone and teeth. While formalin or formaldehyde have been universally accepted as the two fixative solutions that most laboratories use, no such decalcifying agent has been reported.

Objective: The present review aims to compare and discuss the various decalcifying agents used for the decalcification of human teeth with a focus on the effect of these agents on the overall structure and staining qualities of decalcified tissues.

Study Design: Five electronic databases were searched for relevant studies using specific keywords. Papers that studied decalcification of bones or non-human teeth were excluded from this study.

Results: The literature search resulted in 11 studies that were conducted between 2007 and 2021. These papers discuss various dental pulp access methods, fixatives, decalcifying agents and decalcification conditions.

Conclusion: Despite the importance of decalcification for sectioning and staining of hard tissues, there is no consensus among histopathologists and researchers on a standard decalcifying solution. The choice of decalcifying agent is primarily influenced by staining characteristics and the rate of decalcification, which may vary according to the specific needs of the pathologist or researcher.