MTA solubility: a long term study.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Chemical Analysis

Background:

• Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is a widely used dental material.
• Understanding MTA's long-term solubility and pH stability is crucial for clinical applications.
• Previous studies indicated solubility differences based on water/powder ratios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term solubility of MTA in an aqueous medium.
• To verify if initial water/powder ratio differences in solubility persist over time.
• To measure the pH of water exposed to MTA specimens.

Main Methods:

• MTA specimens were prepared at 0.28 and 0.33 water/powder ratios.
• Specimens were immersed in water following ISO 6876 standard for 78 days.
• Soluble material release and pH were periodically measured.

Main Results:

• Mathematical projection indicated potential long-term solubilization of 22.06% (0.28 ratio) and 31.095% (0.33 ratio) of initial dry weight.
• Higher water/powder ratios resulted in greater cumulative solubility.
• MTA sustained a high pH in the surrounding water throughout the study period.

Conclusions:

• MTA exhibits significant long-term solubility, influenced by the water/powder ratio.
• The observed solubility differences between ratios are maintained over time.
• MTA demonstrates prolonged alkalinization, contributing to its favorable biological properties.