Investigation of the hydration and bioactivity of radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement, Biodentine and MTA Angelus

• Published in: Dental materials 2013-05, Vol.29 (5), p.580-593
• Main Authors: Camilleri, Josette, Sorrentino, François, Damidot, Denis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Aluminum Compounds - chemistry; Biodentine; Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Calorimetry; Cements; Characterization; Clinker; Dental material; Dentistry; Drug Combinations; Hydration; Materials Testing; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microstructure; Mineralogy; MTA Angelus; Oxides - chemistry; Radiopacity; Root Canal Filling Materials - chemistry; Root-end filling materials; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicates - chemistry; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission - methods; Surface Properties; Tricalcium silicate; Water; X-Ray Diffraction - methods; Zirconium - chemistry; Zirconium dioxide; Zirconium oxide
• ISSN: 0109-5641; 1879-0097
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2013.03.007

Abstract Objective Novel root-end filling materials are composed of tricalcium silicate (TCS) and radiopacifier as opposed to the traditional mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) which is made up of clinker derived from Portland cement and bismuth oxide. The aim of this research was to characterize and investigate the hydration of a tricalcium silicate-based proprietary brand cement (Biodentine™) and a laboratory manufactured cement made with a mixture of tricalcium silicate and zirconium oxide (TCS-20-Z) and compare their properties to MTA Angelus™. Methods The materials investigated included a cement containing 80% of TCS and 20% zirconium oxide (TCS-20-Z), Biodentine™ and MTA Angelus™. The specific surface area and the particle size distribution of the un-hydrated cements and zirconium oxide were investigated using a gas adsorption method and scanning electron microscopy. Un-hydrated cements and set materials were tested for mineralogy and microstructure, assessment of bioactivity and hydration. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refined X-ray diffraction and calorimetry were employed. The radiopacity of the materials was investigated using ISO 6876 methods. Results The un-hydrated cements were composed of tricalcium silicate and a radiopacifier phase; zirconium oxide for both Biodentine™ and TCS-20-Z whereas bismuth oxide for MTA Angelus™. In addition Biodentine™ contained calcium carbonate particles and MTA Angelus™ exhibited the presence of dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate, calcium, aluminum and silicon oxides. TCS and MTA Angelus™ exhibited similar specific surface area while Biodentine™ had a greater specific surface area. The cements hydrated and produced some hydrates located either as reaction rim around the tricalcium silicate grain or in between the grains at the expense of volume containing the water initially present in the mixture. The rate of reaction of tricalcium calcium silicate was higher for Biodentine™ than for TCS-20-Z owing to its optimized particle size distribution, the presence of CaCO3 and the use of CaCl2 . Tricalcium calcium silicate in MTA hydrated even more slowly than TCS-20-Z as evident from the size of reaction rim representative of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) around tricalcium silicate grains and the calorimetry measurements. On the other hand, calcium oxide contained in MTA Angelus™ hydrated very fast inducing an intense