Induction of cartilage and bone by dentin demineralized in citric acid

The capacity of a roll of dentin demineralized by either 0.6N HCl, pH 1 for 3 minutes or 3 hours, or by 3M (9N) citric acid, pH 1, for 3 minutes, to induce cartilage and bone when implanted in muscle, was investigated. Serial sections of specimens were examined 7, 10, 14. 17, and 21 days after implantation, and randomly selected sections analyzed histomorphometrically. Cartilage was induced on the internal aspect of the citric acid‐demineralized dentin roll, but significantly less than that induced after demineralization with HCl. The quantity of bone deposited subsequently did not significantly exceed the amount of cartilage that preceded it in relation to any of the preparations used. The results suggest that citric acid‐demineralized dentin induces chondrogenesis and osteogenesis when implanted in muscle, but does so less effectively than does HCl‐demineralized dentin, and only within the confines of a microenvironment. It is therefore unlikely that citric acid demineralization of root surface results in induction of cementum by this mechanism.