Authors : Hassan Torabzadeh, Sarah Aslanzadeh and Seed Asgary
Abstract: This study aims to assess the radiopacity of various dental biomaterials such as pulp-cappings (Life/Dycal), ZOE bases (Zonalin KemDent/Kimia), root canal sealers (AH26/ZOE), gutta-perchas (Gapadent/Spident/Meta Biomed/Suisse) and MTAs (ProRoot/Root/Angelus) along with Calcium-Enriched Mixture (CEM) cement. Five circular specimens (1 mm in thickness/5 mm in diameter) were prepared from each material; five teeth were sliced horizontally with 1 mm thickness as well. Radiographic images of specimens were taken and recorded using digital radiography along with the graduated aluminum step-wedge. The x-ray unit was set at 65 kVp, 8 mA, 18.5 pulse sec-1 and 0.12 sec exposure time and focus-film distance of 32 cm. Radiographs were imported to Digora software to compare radiographic density of the materials, dentin and aluminum step-wedge thicknesses. Data were exported to SPSS to be analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test. The radiopacity of dentin was measured 1.027 mmAl. Life and Dycal showed the radiopacity of 2.906 and 2.254 mmAl, respectively (p<0.05). KemDent demonstrated higher radiopacity than Kimia (7.009 vs. 8.030 mmAl) (p<0.05). ZOE and AH26 as sealers exhibited the radiopacity of 5.891 and 8.612 mmAl, respectively (p<0.05). Gutta-perchas (Gapadnt<Spident<Meta Biomed<Suisse) showed a radiopacity from 7.051-8.051 mmAl. Radiopacity of MTAs could be ranked as follows: [Angelus = 5.589 mmAl, Root = 5.519 mmAl (p>0.05)] and ProRoot = 5.009 mmAl (p<0.05). CEM cement demonstrated the radiopacity of 2.227 mmAl. All biomaterials tested had radiopacity value of at least twice of the dentin. All brands of gutta-percha/sealers met and even exceeded the minimum radiopacity of ISO No. 9877/9876.
Hassan Torabzadeh, Sarah Aslanzadeh and Seed Asgary, 2012. Radiopacity of Various Dental Biomaterials. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 152-158.