In Vitro Biomineralizing Ability of a New Endodontic Material

Objectives: The aim was to assess in vitro the biomineralizing ability of a recently marketed calcium silicate based endodontic material.

Methods: The material was DiaRoot Aggregate (DiaDent) available in powder form. 0.3 g of the powder was mixed with distilled water according to the manufacturer's recommendation, and the resultant slurry was allowed to set in a phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS, pH = 7.2) contained in a polyethylene vial for up to 1 m at room temperature (~ 22°C). ProRoot MTA (Tulsa Dentsply), a material with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo biomineralizing ability (Sarkar, et al, JOE, 31, 2, 2005) was included in the study for comparison. The biomineralizing ability has been evaluated on the basis of the following parameters: (a) solution pH at 30 min. of slurry exposure, (b) Ca concentration in solution after 1d exposure, and (c) morphology, composition, and structure of precipitates formed in solution during the month long exposure. For each parameter, three specimens of each material were utilized.

Results: The pH values associated with DiaRoot and MTA were 11.57±0.06 and 11.27±0.15, respectively. Corresponding Ca concentration data (ppm) were: 245.50±36.06 and 288.00±14.14. Difference between the two materials with respect to pH was statistically significant (p < 0.05). No significant difference existed however between their Ca release data. Both materials yielded globular precipitates but those resulting from DiaRoot were finer. Chemically and structurally, the precipitates from both materials were similar in that they contained Ca, P, and O, and were carbonated hydroxyapatite.

Conclusions: DiaRoot is bioactive. Its in vitro biomineralizing characteristics are very similar to those of ProRoot MTA.