Present status and future directions: Hydraulic materials for endodontic use

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Endodontic Therapy

Background:

• Hydraulic materials, primarily tricalcium and dicalcium silicate-based, are crucial in endodontics due to their hydration properties and calcium hydroxide formation.
• These materials exhibit hydraulic characteristics, reacting with water, and are available in various forms for dental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the classification of hydraulic materials and their specific applications in endodontics (intra-coronal, intra-radicular, extra-radicular).
• To evaluate material properties linked to clinical uses, identify current status, and highlight future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PUBMED database.
• In vitro properties (physical, chemical, biological, antimicrobial) and clinical data were extracted and analyzed for each application.

Main Results:

• Numerous publications were identified for each clinical use of hydraulic cements in endodontics.
• Research findings were categorized based on the specific material properties investigated.

Conclusions:

• Hydraulic cements have demonstrably improved clinical outcomes in endodontic treatments.
• Significant limitations exist in current testing methodologies, restricting adequate clinical translation and necessitating updated clinical protocols for optimal material use.