If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Wiley InterScience

International Endodontic Journal

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Published Online: 4 Nov 2009

Published on behalf of

Go to Society Site

Next Abstract >

Save Article to My Profile Download Citation

Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 360K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking

Evaluation of the radiopacity of calcium silicate cements containing different radiopacifiers

J. Camilleri ^1,2 & M. G. Gandolfi ^3,4

¹ Department of Building and Civil Engineering, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, Msida ; ² Department of Dental Surgery, Faculty of Dental Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta ; ³ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna ; and ⁴ Department of Odontostomatological Sciences-Endodontic Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Correspondence to Dr Josette Camilleri PhD, Department of Building and Civil Engineering, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta (Tel.: 356 2340 2870; fax: 356 21330190; e-mail: josette.camilleri@um.edu.mt).

KEYWORDS

bismuth oxide • calcium silicate-based cement • chemical composition • mineral trioxide aggregate • radiopacity

Camilleri J, Gandolfi MG. Evaluation of the radiopacity of calcium silicate cements containing different radiopacifiers. International Endodontic Journal.

ABSTRACT

Aim To identify the suitable ratio of alternative radiopacifiers to impart the necessary radiopacity to calcium silicate cements (CSC) and assess the purity of the radiopacifying agents.

Methodology Alternative radiopacifying materials for incorporation into CSC included barium sulphate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, gold powder and silver/tin alloy. The chemical composition of the alternative radipacifying materials and bismuth oxide, which is used in mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), was determined using energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In addition, using an aluminium step-wedge and densitometer, the radiopacity of each material was evaluated as recommended by international standards. The optical density was compared with the relevant thickness of aluminium (Al). A commercial MTA and CSC were used as controls. Statistical analysis comparing the radiodensity of the different cements to MTA was performed using anova with P = 0.05 and post hoc Tukey test.

Results All percentage replacements of bismuth oxide, gold and silver–tin alloy powder, and the 25% and 30% replacements with barium sulphate and zinc oxide had radiopacities greater than 3 mm thickness of aluminium (Al) recommended by ISO 6876 (2002). The 25% replacement of cement with gold powder and 20% replacement of cement with silver/tin alloy powder exhibited radiopacity values of 8.04 mm Al and 7.52 mm Al, respectively, similar to MTA (P > 0.05). The cement replaced with 20% bismuth oxide showed a radiopacity of 6.83 mm Al, lower than MTA (P = 0.003).

Conclusions Silver/tin alloy and gold powder imparted the necessary radiopacity to a calcium silicate-based cement. Barium sulphate was also a suitable radiopacifier together with a lower concentration of silver/tin alloy and gold powder that achieved the radiodensity recommended by ISO 6876. Further research is required to investigate the broader properties of the calcium silicate-based cement with the different radiopacifiers.

Received 20 April 2009; accepted 30 June 2009

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2591.2009.01621.x About DOI