title: Characterization of set Intermediate Restorative Material, Biodentine, Bioaggregate and a prototype calcium silicate cement for use as root-end filling materials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the composition of materials and leachate of a hydrated prototype cement composed of tricalcium silicate and radiopacifier and compare this to other tricalcium silicate-based cements (Biodentine and Bioaggregate) to assess whether the additives in the proprietary brand cements affect the hydration of the materials, using Intermediate Restorative Material (IRM), a standard root-end filling material as a control.
  
  
  METHODS
  The materials investigated included a prototype-radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement, Biodentine, Bioaggregate and Intermediate Restorative Material (IRM). The pH and calcium ion concentration of the leachate were investigated. The hydrated cements were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the cements tested were alkaline. The tricalcium silicate-based cements leached calcium in solution. Scanning electron microscopy of the prototype-radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement, Biodentine and Bioaggregate displayed hydrating cement grains, surrounded by a matrix composed of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. The presence of calcium hydroxide was evident from the XRD plots. FT-IR indicated the occurrence of a poorly crystalline calcium silicate hydrate. Biodentine displayed the presence of calcium carbonate. Bioaggregate incorporated a phosphate-containing phase. IRM consisted of zinc oxide interspersed in an organic matrix.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hydration of prototype-radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement, Biodentine and Bioaggregate resulted in the formation of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide, which was leached in solution. The hydrated materials were composed of a cementitous phase that was rich in calcium and silicon and a radiopacifying material. Biodentine included calcium carbonate, and Bioaggregate included silica and calcium phosphate in the powders. IRM was composed of zinc oxide interspersed in a matrix of organic material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grech
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mallia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camilleri
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003461:Crystallography; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D012184:Retrograde Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C557009:BioAggregate; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003287:Contrast Media; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D010710:Phosphates; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D014867:Water; C506393:tricalcium silicate; C031667:IRM cement; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; C031293:calcium silicate; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D002118:Calcium