A comparative study on solubility of root end filling materials - An in vitro study

Aim: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the solubility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), MTA Plus, chitosan and their conjugates in synthetic tissue fluid (STF). Methods: Ninety six stainless steel ring moulds with an internal diameter of 10 ± 1 mm and a height of 2 ± 0.1 mm were selected. Materials used were MTA, MTA Plus, Chitosan, and their conjugates. The samples were divided into four groups and placed in STF for 7 and 28 days. Materials were mixed and inserted into the molds. The samples weight was recorded before and after immersion in STF. The weight differences were calculated and the percentage of weight changes was recorded. One specimen was selected from each experimental group and examined for microstructure and elemental composition of the samples using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected to a secondary electron detector for energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Statistical analysis was done with the two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple post hoc analysis. Results: MTA showed less solubility at 7 and 28 days. The solubility of MTA Plus chitosan conjugate decreased after 28 days of immersion in STF. According to SEM/EDX analysis, the conjugates of MTA and MTA Plus showed an increased number of calcium phosphate deposits on the surface compared to MTA and MTA Plus alone. Conclusion: The conjugates of MTA and MTA Plus showed better surface deposits when examined under SEM/EDX. Hence, chitosan can be a novel material in dentistry to increase the bioactivity of the materials.