Radiopacity of potential root-end filling materials.
OBJECTIVE
In recent years various root-end filling materials have been suggested for clinical use. The purpose of this study was to assess the radiopacity of some potential materials according to ISO specification 6876.


METHODS
Radiographs were taken of 1-mm thick specimens of eight materials (amalgam, Kalzinol, IRM, Super EBA, Vitrebond, Fuji II LC, Chemfil, gutta-percha); light transmission was assessed densitometrically and related to equivalent thickness of aluminum.


RESULTS
Commercial glass ionomer cements (Vitrebond, Fuji II LC, Chemfil) had radiopacities below the international standard for root canal sealers (< 3-mm aluminum); three zinc oxide-eugenol cements (Kalzinol, Super EBA, IRM) had radiopacities equivalent to 5 to 8 mm aluminum; and gutta-percha had a radiopacity equivalent to 6.1-mm aluminum.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that root-end filling materials should have a radiopacity greater than that for root canal sealers.
Shah
P M
PM
United Medical and Dental School, London, U.K.
Chong
B S
BS
Sidhu
S K
SK
Ford
T R
TR
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005054:Eugenol / Q000737:chemistry; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012184:Retrograde Obturation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003287:Contrast Media; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C067790:Vitrabond; C084541:Fuji glass-ionomer lining cement; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005054:Eugenol; C031667:IRM cement; D003723:Dental Amalgam; C003799:N2 Dental Cement; C084074:Super EBA; C039733:Chemfil; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D015034:Zinc Oxide