Trace metal contents of three tricalcium silicate materials: MTA Angelus, Micro Mega MTA and Bioaggregate

To investigate the levels of nine metals [aluminium (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and molybdenum (Mo)] in MTA Angelus, Micro Mega MTA and Bioaggregate using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Each material (0.2 g) was digested using a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids and then filtered. The levels of nine metals in the resulting filtrates were measured by ICP-OES. The results were statistically analysed using one-way anova and the Bonferroni test.

MTA Angelus contained more aluminium, beryllium and chromium than Micro Mega MTA (P < 0.05), whilst their levels of arsenic, cadmium and iron were similar. Antimony, lead and molybdenum were not detected in any of the three tested cements. Bioaggregate contained trace amounts of aluminium.

MTA Angelus and Micro Mega MTA contained small amounts of seven tested metal oxides. Bioaggregate only contained trace amounts of aluminium.