Definition and Classification of Bioceramic Endodontic Sealers

The term "bioceramic" is used in endodontics to describe various products and is often used in general terms for mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and other hydroscopic dental cements (HDC), which creates confusion in the terminology.

The aim of the study is to present a definition and an original classification of bioceramic endodontic sealers.

A total of 123 articles were found by the PubMed search engine using the key phrase "bioceramic endodontic sealers". Of these 123 articles, we analyzed 20 articles that contain information about the composition, properties, definition, and classification of bioceramic endodontic sealers.

In accordance with the collected data on the composition and the delivery form of calcium silicate endodontic sealers, we propose a new definition of bioceramic endodontic sealers that clarifies the specificities of these materials. In the new classification they are divided by two criteria: source of calcium silicate and form of delivery. It also contains the particular products' names in order to aid their usage in the clinical practice. Conclusions: The new definition of bioceramic endodontic sealers clears out the confusion in the terminology, which promotes the classification of these products and helps understanding their clinical application.