Related Experiment Videos
Comparative radiopacity of tetracalcium phosphate and other root-end filling materials
C D Laghios1, B W Benson, J L Gutmann
1Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M University Health Science Center, PO Box 660677, Dallas, TX, USA.
Aim:
This study compared the radiopacity of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and 11 root-end filling materials relative to human dentine.
Methodology:
Specimens of 2 mm thickness and a graduated aluminium stepwedge were placed on dental X-ray films and exposed to an X-ray beam. The optical densities of the specimens and aluminium steps were measured. The optical densities of the specimens were correlated to the equivalent thickness of aluminium with a regression analysis equation. The equation was used to calculate the equivalent aluminium thickness of each of the specimens.
Results:
Nine of the materials were found to be of acceptable radiopacity (at least 2 mm Al more radiopaque than dentine). TCCP and two of the glass-ionomer compounds were found to have insufficient radiopacity to be radiographically distinguishable from human dentine.
Conclusions:
All the materials were found to be distinguishable radiographically from dentine, except for Vitrebond, TTCP and Ketac-Fil. Amalgam was the most radiopaque material and Ketac-Fil was the least radiopaque material tested.