Comparative in-Vitro Evaluation of Material Properties of Commonly Used Root-End Filling Materials

Background: Standard guidelines for performing conventional endodontic procedures have undergone a number of modifications recently. An ideal characteristics of a root end filling materials include dimensional stability; radio -opacity; non-resorbability; compressibility, adequate working and quick setting time; biocompatibility especially in peri-radicular area; bioactivity and easy handling properties. Objectives: This study evaluated and compared different root -end filling materials by determining their solubility, sorption and fluid uptake after immersion in deionized water over a period of 28 days. Methods: Materials were mixed a per manufacturer's instructions and disc -shaped specimens were made (15mmx1mm). After 24h curing, discs were immersed in deionized water and incubated at 37 +/- 1(degrees)C. At specified time intervals, measurements for mass and volume of discs were taken to calculate fluid sorption, solubility and uptake. Results: Fluid uptake of MTA was 0.029 +/- 0.0025g at day 1 and 0.066 +/- 0.004g at day 28 whereas, for Acroseal it was 0.0006 +/- 0.0001g at day 1 and 0.006 +/- 0.001g at day 28. Fluid uptake of MTA and Acroseal increased with passage of time but for Biodentine fluid uptake decreased from day 1 (0.017 +/- 0.005g) to day 28 (0.008 +/- 0.005g). Acroseal exhibited lowest values of fluid sorption (0.006 +/- 0.0005%) and solubility (0.0006 +/- 0.00005%) whereas bio-dentine exhibited maximum values of fluid sorption (0.06 +/- 0.007%) and solubility (0.04 +/- 0.03%). Conclusions: Percent water solubility and sorption of Biodentine is higher than MTA and Acroseal, whereas its fluid uptake decreases over a period of 28 days in comparison to MTA and Acroseal, indicating its stability and thus making Biodentine a better root -end filling material.