[Determination of calcium content in dentine after application of ZOE paste]

The calcium in dentine after the application of zinc oxide/eugenol paste (ZOE) was determined. The results were compared with the values valid for normal dentine calcium content in order to check some hypothesis suggesting that the effects of ZOE paste on dentine could reduce the calcium content and cause demineralization of dentine. The results obtained for calcium content in various layers of dentine have shown that only the layer of dentine-enamel junction (which should be removed before the application of ZOE paste) contained the increased concentration of calcium in comparison to anatomically deeper layers. The average calcium content in deeper dentine layers are very similar, especially in dentine layers directly exposed to action of ZOE paste, as well as in the layer on which ZOE paste was not applied.