Root-End Fillings Using MTA

The major cause of periapical lesions in surgical cases may be due to leakage of bacteria and their toxins. A number of materials have been suggested as root-end filling materials including gutta-percha, amalgam, gold foil, zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) cements, polycarboxylate cements, glass ionomer cements (GIC), composite resins, intermediate restorative material (IRM), SuperEBA, and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). The root-end filling material is placed to fill root-end cavity, which is prepared with an ultrasonic tip following root end resection. The ideal root-end filling material should be easy to manipulate, radiopaque, dimensionally stable, bactericidal or bacteriostatic, nonresorbable, and unaffected by the presence of moisture. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of MTA were tested in in vitro cell culture studies, and the results showed the satisfactory attachment of osteoblasts and periodontal cells on MTA. The purpose of a root-end preparation is to clean and create a space for a root- end filling material.