Root-filling materials for endodontic surgery: biological and clinical aspects

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Surgery

Background:

• Root filling materials are crucial for preventing post-endodontic apical periodontitis.
• Effective materials require excellent sealing and/or antibacterial properties to prevent bacterial invasion.
• Root-end filling and perforation repair involve challenging clinical environments with significant periradicular tissue interface.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review widely used endodontic surgery materials.
• To focus on the biological characteristics of these materials, including antibacterial properties and host cell interactions.
• To present clinical studies on amalgam, glass ionomer cements (GICs), resin systems, zinc oxide eugenol-based cements, and hydraulic calcium silicate cements (HCSCs).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of endodontic surgery materials.
• Analysis of biological properties: antibacterial effects and host tissue cell interactions.
• Evaluation of clinical studies on material performance.

Main Results:

• Hydraulic calcium silicate cements (HCSCs) appear to offer biological advantages, with recent formulations addressing prior issues.
• Zinc oxide eugenol-based cements are still used and demonstrate similar clinical success rates to HCSCs.
• The comparative significance of different root filling materials on long-term clinical outcomes requires further clarification.

Conclusions:

• While HCSCs present biological benefits for endodontic surgery, established materials like zinc oxide eugenol cements maintain clinical relevance.
• The choice of material for root-end filling and perforation repair warrants careful consideration of biological properties and clinical efficacy.
• Further research is needed to definitively establish the long-term clinical impact of various root filling materials.