Comparative radiopacity of tetracalcium phosphate and other root-end filling materials.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the radiopacity of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and 11 root-end filling materials relative to human dentine.


METHODS
Specimens of 2 mm thickness and a graduated aluminium stepwedge were placed on dental X-ray films and exposed to an X-ray beam. The optical densities of the specimens and aluminium steps were measured. The optical densities of the specimens were correlated to the equivalent thickness of aluminium with a regression analysis equation. The equation was used to calculate the equivalent aluminium thickness of each of the specimens.


RESULTS
Nine of the materials were found to be of acceptable radiopacity (at least 2 mm Al more radiopaque than dentine). TCCP and two of the glass-ionomer compounds were found to have insufficient radiopacity to be radiographically distinguishable from human dentine.


CONCLUSIONS
All the materials were found to be distinguishable radiographically from dentine, except for Vitrebond, TTCP and Ketac-Fil. Amalgam was the most radiopaque material and Ketac-Fil was the least radiopaque material tested.
Laghios
C D
CD
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M University Health Science Center, PO Box 660677, Dallas, TX, USA.
Benson
B W
BW
Gutmann
J L
JL
Cutler
C W
CW
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012184:Retrograde Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D008298:Maleates; D010087:Oxides; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C067790:Vitrabond; C014457:bismuth phosphate, copolymers of vinyl acetate, dichlorophen, propionyl-acetophenone, triethanolamine, vinyl chloride, vinylisobutyl ether, zinc oxide drug combination; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; D003723:Dental Amalgam; C040964:Ketac-Fil; D006171:Gutta-Percha; C020243:calcium phosphate; D000535:Aluminum; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D001729:Bismuth