The aim of this study was to compare the sealing ability of two Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) cements for retrograde root-end filling, using the nuclear medicine approach, with sodium pertechnetate 99mTc.
Method:
Single-rooted human extracted teeth were selected and the crowns were sectioned to obtain 15-mm-long root segments. Each tooth was prepared using rotary Protaper Universal instruments and filled with gutta-percha. After sectioning 2 mm from the apex, standardized retrograde cavities were prepared and filled with one of the MTA materials. The roots were divided into 2 experimental groups: G1, ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Maillefer, CH-1338 Ballaigues- Switzerland), group and G2, PD MTA White (Produits Dentaires SA Rue des Bosquets 18 1800 Vevey Switzerland) group, and two control groups, G3, Positive control group and G4, Negative control group. On the 7th day the apices were submersed in a solution of sodium pertechnetate 99mTc for 3 hours. The radioactivity was counted using a gamma camera. Data were analyzed statistically with R software package (α= 0.05).
Result:
The MTA materials leaked in both groups. Apical leakage in the ProRoot MTA cement was reduced compared with PD MTA White, with statistically significant differences (t-student test) between the groups (p = 0.01471).
Conclusion:
The results show that ProRoot MTA cement had good sealing ability comparing with PD MTA White cement.