Evaluation of the effect of direct heat treatment with the use of a burnisher on MTA Solubility: An in vitro study

Abstract

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a relatively new material which is used widely in endodontic therapy and has many favorable characteristics such as excellent sealing ability and being able to induce regeneration of periapical tissues. However, it has long setting time and can be washed out during placement. There have been numerous attempts to solve this problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of direct heat treatment with the use of a burnisher on MTA Solubility. Materials and methods: In this in vitro study, 12 MTA samples were prepared in similar molds, according to ISO6876 and then weighted with a digital scale. They were randomly divided into two groups each including 6 samples. In first group (Heat- treated group), for each MTA sample, a large burnisher which had been heated on a spirit lamp, was placed on the sample for 3 seconds. This intervention was not performed on second group (Non heat-treated group). All samples were then weighted again and the ones that showed changes in their weight were excluded from this study. Then all MTA samples were placed in Ringer's lactate solution, after certain amounts of time they were taken out, dehydrated and weighted again. The difference between each sample’s primary and final weight was considered as MTA solubility. Certain statistical methods and SPSS.20 were used to analyze the data from this study. A P-value less than 0/05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings showed that the time influence on mean weight in Heat-treated and Non heat-treated groups was different. (P-value <0/05) This difference was statistically meaningful after two and three-month periods.