Reinforcement of Simulated Immature Roots: MTA vs Calcium Phosphate Cement

Materials and methods: Standardized cylinders were prepared from bovine femurs with dimensions comparable to those of the cervical root region (ø 7mm, H 10.5mm). Part of the samples received a central canal (ø 3.5 mm) in order to imitate an immature root and were not filled or obturated with grey MTA or CPBC. The diametral tensile strength of the 4 sample groups (intact, hollow, hollow but obturated with grey MTA or with CPBC) was determined. Fracture resistance was taken as the ultimate force to fracture (UFF) under tension.

Results: Analysis of variance indicated that the UFF depended on the treatment (p<0.001). Obturation with MTA or CPBC resulted in a significant reinforcement of the hollow samples, though the strength of the intact samples was not reached. Moreover, the difference between the UFF of MTA and CPBC filled samples was not significant (p=1.000).

Conclusion: It was shown that both materials resulted in a reinforcement of standardized samples. Further in vivo investigation is needed to define the best biocompatible material having the opportunity to perform a one-visit apexification simultaneously increasing the mechanical properties of non-vital immature teeth.