Necrotic immature teeth present a clinical challenge due to the blunderbuss apex and due to a difficulty in achieveing a bacterial/fluid tight seal between canal walls and root canal filling material. Calcium hydroxide apexification is the classical approach which reqiures a minimum of 12 months. Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare the apical filling material / canal wall interface of four techniques utilized for the treatment of immature teeth. Methods: Fifty teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups (10 teeth in each group). Group 1 would consist of untreated teeth and would be used as the control; group 2 included teeth packed with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA); group 3 included teeth packed with chloroform dip guttapercha; group 4 included teeth packed with Obtura and group 5 included teeth packed with Portland cement. All teeth were radiographed in mesio-distal and bucco-lingual direction. Following cleaning and shaping of the canals, Collacote was packed to assure an apical stop prior to obturation of the root canal system with the four experimental materials. All steps were performed using a surgical operating microscope. Experimental teeth were subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy (S.E.M.) to evaluate the filling material / canal wall interface apically at 35x and 250x. Results: SEM microscopy imaging showed MTA and Portland cement were superior to Obtura followed by the chloroform dip technique. MTA and Portland cement showed a superior filling / canal wall interface. Conclusions: MTA and Portland cement could be promising materials in treatment of necrotic immature teeth.

Back to the Dental Materials: VIII - Others-Non-metallic Program
Back to the IADR/AADR/CADR 80th General Session (March 6-9, 2002)

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