title: A qualitative X-ray analysis of white and grey mineral trioxide aggregate using compositional imaging.
abstract: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is used in endodontics as a filling and sealant material. An earlier commercial formulation Grey MTA (GMTA) was liable to became progressively discoloured, and a whiter version (WMTA) has been introduced for cosmetic reasons. This study compares the composition and particle size distribution of the two formulations using energy dispersive X-ray analysis in a scanning electron microscope. Particle size is smaller in WMTA. X-ray analysis reveals similar major peaks (calcium, silicon and bismuth) but those of the minor elements aluminium, magnesium and particularly iron are considerably less in WMTA, which may account for the colour difference. Neither contains phosphorus, a major constituent of the original formulation.
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Department, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgary
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parirokh
authors.forename: Mohammad Jafar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eghbal
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stowe
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brink
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003738:Dental Cements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis / Q000379:methods*; D004708:Endodontics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003738:Dental Cements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D000535:Aluminum; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium