Comparative evaluation of endodontic management of teeth with unformed apices with mineral trioxide aggregate and calcium hydroxide.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) for their efficacies and time taken for formation of apical biological calcific barriers and resolution of periapical radiolucencies, if present at baseline, in teeth with unformed apices.


METHODS
Twenty nonvital permanent maxillary incisors with unformed apices, stratified according to the size of periapical radiolucencies and stage of root development, were equally allocated to MTA and Ca(OH)2 groups. In group 1 (MTA group), after 7 days of disinfection with Ca(OH)2, MTA was packed into the apical one third of the root canals and obturation with gutta percha (GP) was performed in 90% (9/10) of cases within 15 to 30 days. In group 2 (Ca(OH)2 group), obturation was performed following clinical and radiographic depiction of the apical stop.


RESULTS
The mean time taken for apical biological barrier formation was 3 +/- 2.9 months for group 1 and 7 +/- 2.5 months for group 2 (P=.008). The periapical radiolucencies were resolved in 4.6 +/- 1.5 months for group 1 and 4.4 +/- 1.3 months for group 2 (P=.83). The total treatment was completed in 0.75 +/- 0.4859 months and 7 +/- 2.5 months for groups 1 and 2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2 materials were found to be equally efficacious in the management of nonvital teeth with unformed apices. Time taken to complete the treatment and the biological barrier formation in group 1 was significantly less than that for group 2. The healing time for periapical radiolucencies was almost identical.
Pradhan
D P
DP
Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. drdebp@hotmail.com
Chawla
H S
HS
Gauba
K
K
Goyal
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000293:injuries; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide