Microleakage of Accelerated Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Portland Cement in an In Vitro Apexification Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microleakage of accelerated mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Portland cement by flow porometry analysis in an in vitro apexification model. Sixty-four single-rooted, extracted teeth were divided into 4 groups (group 1, MTA; group 2, MTA with accelerator; group 3, Portland cement; and group 4, Portland cement with accelerator). In an in vitro apexification model, MTA or Portland cement mixed with or without 10% CaCl 2 was condensed to 2-mm thickness. The negative control group (n = 4) had the apical foramen sealed with epoxy resin. The maximum and mean flow pore diameters of the samples were tested by capillary flow porometry at 90 minutes and 48 hours after obturation. The addition of accelerator significantly reduced the maximum pore diameters of MTA and Portland cement at the initial setting phase. After 48 hours of obturation, the maximum and mean flow pore diameters of the accelerated samples were significantly reduced compared with the normal samples. There was no statistically significant difference in the maximum pore diameter of MTA and Portland cement between the measurements at 90 minutes and 48 hours. The results imply that the addition of accelerator into MTA or Portland cement can be useful in a one-visit apexification by reducing microleakage even in an early setting time.