A comparative evaluation of the effect of various additives on selected physical properties of white mineral trioxide aggregate

AIMS: This study examined the setting time, compressive strength, and pH of white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) mixed with various additives: Calcium chloride (CaCl(2)), calcium formate (CaF), disodium hydrogen orthophosphate (Na(2)HPO(4)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group 1 (Control) was obtained by mixing MTA with distilled water. In Groups 2 and 3, MTA containing 10% CaCl(2) and 20% CaF, respectively, was mixed with distilled water. In Group 4, MTA was mixed with 15% Na(2)HPO(4). Setting time, compressive strength, and pH of each group were examined. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Comparison of mean values was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Games-Howell test. RESULTS: The setting time of test groups were significantly shorter than that of control group (P < 0.001). The compressive strengths of test groups were lower than that of control group (P < 0.001). The pH value obtained for Groups 3 and 4 were higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Study result showed that additives significantly reduced the setting time of MTA and also maintained the pH at a high value. However, there was not much improvement in the compressive strength of the material.