Keywords
fracture resistance - mineral trioxide aggregate - CEM Cement - Biodentine
Introduction
Immature teeth with pulp necrosis are susceptible to fracture due to their thin dentine
walls and underdeveloped roots.[1] Root canal treatment of such teeth with open apices and wide divergent apical walls
is challenging. Conventionally, endodontic management of immature teeth has been performed
using long-term intracanal application of calcium hydroxide.[2] However, it has been reported that following long-term use of calcium hydroxide,
a 50% reduction in tooth strength occurred over 1 year.[3] In addition, as a consequence of the changes to the organic matrix in dentine, cervical
root fracture may also occur.[4]
[5] As an alternative treatment, calcium silicate-based cements such as mineral trioxide
aggregate (MTA) have been suggested as apical barriers for one-step management of
immature teeth with necrotic pulps.[6]
[7]
[8] Following the placement of the apical barrier, the remainder of the canal is most
often filled with gutta-percha and sealer. However, to improve the sealing of the
middle and coronal portions of underdeveloped roots, it has been suggested that the
remaining root canal system should be filled with a calcium silicate-based cement.[9]
[10] In fact, it has been reported that this technique can reinforce the immature root
structure[11] because the cervical and middle portions of the root provide the bulk of the fracture
resistance. Furthermore, since the thickness of the canal walls in the apical third
is limited, root-end filling materials do not support direct occlusal loads.[12] Biodentine (Septodont, St Maur-des-Fossés, France), a bioactive cement, was introduced
as a dentine restorative material and pulp capping agent with the aim of improving
several drawbacks associated with other calcium silicate cements, such as long setting
time[13] and difficult handling properties.[14] Calcium-enriched mixture CEM Cement (BioniqueDent, Tehran, Iran) has also been developed
to overcome the disadvantages of other calcium silicate materials.[15] In this study, an experimental immature bovine tooth model was designed to investigate
the effect of filling the cervical and middle regions of root canals with ProRoot
MTA, CEM Cement, and Biodentine on the fracture resistance of immature teeth. The
null hypothesis was that filling the cervical and middle regions of root canals using
biosilicate cements would not increase the fracture resistance of immature teeth.
Materials and Methods
Seventy freshly extracted bovine incisors were collected and disinfected in 2.5% sodium
hypochlorite solution for 30 minutes. The crowns and roots were sectioned 8 mm above
and 12 mm below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), respectively, resulting in a standard
length of 20 mm. The dentinal thickness of the most cervical part of the roots just
below the CEJ was measured using a digital caliper. Those with 8 ± 0.5 mm buccolingual
and 6 ± 0.5 mm mesiodistal dimensions were selected in an attempt to control the confounding
factor of root dimension. The internal canal anatomy of each specimen was then examined
using two radiographic images taken from the buccolingual and mesiodistal direction.
Teeth with cracks and/or fractures were excluded. To standardize the specimens, the
entire length of each root canal was then enlarged in a coronoapical direction using
a 2.2-mm diameter water-cooled fissure bur (Jota AG, Rüthi, Switzerland). During the
procedure, the specimens were maintained in moist gauze to prevent dehydration. Two
more digital radiographic images were then taken from mesiodistal and buccolingual
directions, and the mean dentine thickness of the most coronal portion of the roots
was measured to an accuracy of 0.01 mm. The specimens were then allocated into five
groups according to the coronal dentine thickness. Group I: Biodentine. The liquid
was added to the powder within the capsule and mechanically mixed for 30 seconds using
an amalgamator (Linker, Zhengzhou, Henan, China). The slurry was then applied into
each canal using an amalgam carrier (ASA Dental, Massarosa [Lu], Italy) and then adapted
to root canal walls using a plugger (Dentsply Sirona Endodontics, Ballaigues, Switzerland)
at minimal pressure. The root-filling material was built up to the level of the CEJ
on the labial area of the crown ([Fig. 1B]). Excess cement was removed from the access cavity with a wet cotton pellet. Group
II: The cervical and middle regions of the root canal were filled with tooth-colored
ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States). One gram of MTA
powder was placed in a clean amalgam capsule and mixed with 0.33 mL distilled water
as described by Nekoofar et al[16] and adapted to the canal with a plugger (Dentsply International) using minimal pressure
as in Group I. Group III: To standardize the mixing technique, 1 g CEM Cement powder
(BioniqueDent) and 0.33 mL liquid were added to an empty amalgam capsule, mixed mechanically
using an amalgamator at 4000 rpm for 30 seconds and placed into the canal using minimal
pressure as above. Group IV: Each canal was filled with gutta-percha points (Gapadent,
Tianjin, China) and AH26 sealer (Dentsply De-Trey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany) using a
vertical condensation technique: Size 80 gutta-percha points were cut into 3 to 4
mm sections, heated and placed into the canal, and compacted with a plugger up to
the CEJ. After placement of the root fillings, a digital radiographic image was taken
of all specimens in the buccolingual direction to assess the quality of the filling.
Group V: The root canal was filled with dry cotton wool. During the canal filling
procedures, the specimens were kept in moist gauze to prevent dehydration. The access
cavities of all specimens were then filled with Coltosol and the specimens were stored
at 37°C in a fully saturated atmosphere for 24 hours. To mount the specimens, a metal
cylindrical mold (25-mm diameter × 30-mm high) was designed. The mold was filled with
self-cure acrylic resin (Acropras, Eshtehard, Iran) and specimens were then immersed
up to 2 mm below the CEJ of the buccal surface to simulate the biological width. To
simulate traumatic forces on the middle third of the tooth crowns, a metal jig was
designed as described by Melo et al[17] ([Fig. 1D]) to produce compressive loads at a crosshead speed of 5 mm min–1 in a universal testing machine (Zwick/Roell Z050, Ulm, Germany) until fracture. The
apparatus fixed the specimens at a 45°angle in such a way that the load was applied
by the indenter at 135°to the long axis of the tooth from the buccal direction ([Fig. 1C]). The maximum load required to fracture the specimens was recorded in Newton (N).
To standardize the length of the apical filling, 15-mm customized wooden cylinders
were fitted into the root canals through the coronal access, and the apical region
of all specimens was filled with a noneugenol temporary filling material, Coltosol
(Coltene, Altstätten, Switzerland), and a digital radiograph exposed ([Fig. 1A]). The wooden cylinder was removed after 24-hour incubation at 37°C in a fully saturated
humidity. Then, the remaining root canal system was filled using one of the test materials
producing five groups each of 14 specimens.
Fig. 1 (A) Radiographic view of the Coltosol apical plug, (B) obturation of the entire root canal with Biodentine, (C) schematic view of the jig of the universal testing machine, and (D) relation of the indenter and the sample
Statistical Analysis
Fracture resistance values were calculated as means and standard deviations (SDs).
To compare the intergroup differences, one-way variance analysis, and for intergroup
comparison (two by two comparison), Tukey's test at a 5% level of significance was
used. Mode of fracture was evaluated and analyzed by chi-squared tests and corrected
by the Fisher's exact test. Mode of fracture was evaluated and five types of fracture
were seen: (1) enamel fracture, (2) crown fracture, (3) coronal third fracture, (4)
mid-third fracture, and (5) apical third fracture ([Table 1]).
Table 1
Mean value and standard deviation of fracture strength and mode of fracture of the
samples
|
Experimental group
|
Fracture strength values, mean + SD
|
Mode of fracture of the samples (%)
|
|
Crown Fx.
|
VRF
|
One-third middle root Fx.
|
One-third cervical root Fx.
|
Enamel Fx.
|
|
Abbreviations: CEM, calcium-enriched mixture; Fx., fracture; MTA, mineral trioxide
aggregate; SD, standard deviation; VRF, vertical root fracture.
|
|
Control
|
1451.6 ± 332.1
|
0.0
|
28.6
|
50
|
14.3
|
7.1
|
|
Gutta-percha
|
1873.5 ± 579.8
|
7.1
|
14.3
|
14.3
|
64.3
|
0.0
|
|
CEM
|
1860.8 ± 370.6
|
14.3
|
21.4
|
14.3
|
50.0
|
0.0
|
|
MTA
|
2103.6 ± 549.8
|
0.0
|
21.4
|
14.3
|
64.3
|
0.0
|
|
Biodentine
|
2196.1 ± 575.6
|
0.0
|
35.7
|
28.6
|
21.4
|
14.3
|
Results
The mean fracture strength values and SD of the groups are shown in [Table 1]. Biodentine and ProRoot MTA groups had the greatest fracture resistance. Significant
differences were found between Biodentine and ProRoot MTA groups compared with the
control (p < 0.005). No significant difference was seen between CEM Cement and the gutta-percha
groups compared with the control group. Mode of fracture and the distribution in each
group are shown in [Table 1]. The distribution of fractures was not significantly different between the five
groups.
Discussion
Resistance to fracture for root-filled teeth depends to a large degree on the amount
of remaining tooth structure.[18] Due to thin dentinal walls and susceptibility to fracture, particularly in the cervical
area,[19]
[20] the survival of endodontically treated immature teeth is of concern. The apical
third of immature teeth may not bear significant masticatory forces; therefore, the
remaining dentine in the coronal and middle portion of the root provides the main
resistance against loading forces.[21] The present study was designed to investigate the ability of several calcium silicate-based
cements (ProRoot MTA, CEM Cement, and Biodentine™) to reinforce immature teeth when
placed in the coronal and middle third of the root canal.
A bovine root model was developed to simulate the clinical condition of immature teeth,
that is, Cvek's Stage 3 root development model with two-thirds of final length[5] and a root-to-canal ratio of ~1:1 at the CEJ in the mesiodistal direction. In an
attempt to standardize the samples and reduce confounding variables, the apical third
of all specimens was filled with a noneugenol temporary filling material. To eliminate
the effect of a calcium hydroxide dressing, none was placed in the root canals so
that the specific effect of calcium silicate-based cements could be evaluated.
Despite the differences between human and bovine teeth, Sano et al[22] have demonstrated similarities in ultimate tensile strength, dentine modulus of
elasticity, and number and distribution of dentinal tubules between bovine and human
teeth. In addition, few anatomical and morphological variations have been found in
bovine incisors in comparison with human teeth.[23]
[24]
[25]
[26] Therefore, this model provides a consistent methodology to assess new treatment
modalities for immature teeth. Similar to previous studies,[27]
[28]
[29] an experimental immature tooth model using bovine teeth was thus employed. To improve
the drawbacks of MTA, such as difficult handling properties and prolonged setting
time, a variety of silicate-based cements such as CEM Cement and Biodentine have been
introduced.[30]
[31] It has been claimed that Biodentine sets in 10 minutes and can be used as a single
application bulk restorative material without cavity conditioning,[32] in other words, it acts as a dentine substitute material, a temporary filling material
and establishes an immediate seal against oral fluids.[33] Therefore, in the management of immature teeth with minimum root dentine, it can
be an appropriate choice. According to the results of this study, Biodentine specimens
had significantly higher fracture resistance values compared with the control group.
This finding is in agreement with the results of the study by Cauwels et al.[4] In accordance with Bortoluzzi et al,[27] ProRoot MTA specimens also had significantly higher fracture resistance values than
the control group. In the present study, no significant difference was found between
the fracture strength values of Biodentine and ProRoot MTA groups. However, no significant
difference was found in fracture resistance values between CEM Cement, gutta-percha
and sealer, and the control group. Considering the fact that ProRoot MTA,[10]
[34]
[35] CEM Cement,[36] and Biodentine[10]
[37] are bioactive and are associated with apatite formation after exposure to body fluids
containing phosphorus, they may provide these higher values of fracture resistance
due to apatite crystalline formation along the cement and dentine interface and within
interfacial dentine. Indeed, the fracture resistance values of specimens filled with
calcium silicate-based cements may increase over time. Longer incubation time and
exposure of the specimens to simulated body fluid are suggested for the future studies.
Conclusion
Under the limitations of the present study, it was concluded that root filling with
ProRoot MTA and Biodentine increased the fracture resistance of the simulated immature
teeth compared with control specimens with no root filling. No significant difference
was seen between CEM Cement, gutta-percha/sealer, and controls.
