Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a low intensity alternating current on the odontoblasts and odontoblast layer and compare this with the effects of a direct current.
Methodology: Teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons were immersed in physiological saline stabilized with thymol crystals. Within 1 h of extraction, an alternating or direct current was applied on the crown in the direction of the apex of the tooth for 120-360 s. The current doses were 12, 30, 60, 600, 1800, 3600, 7200, 24,000 and 144,000 microC. The teeth were fixed in Bouin or Baker fluids, the pulps removed, dehydrated and immersed in paraffin, then sectioned, stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and studied under a light microscope.
Results: Neither direct nor alternating current, similar to that applied in electrical caries diagnosis caused histological changes in the odontoblasts.
Conclusions: There was no difference between direct and low intensity alternating current in the response of the odontoblast.