Chemico-physical and mechanical evaluation of three calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials

AIM: This study compared biointeractivity (pH of soaking water and calcium ions), porosity, water sorption, solubility, compressive strength, lap shear strength, as well as the apatite forming ability of three calcium silicate-based capping materials: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine (BD) and Tech Biosealer capping (BS). METHODS: One hundred and five discs of the tested materials were prepared in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The materials' pastes were placed in Teflon molds and allowed to set before testing. The pH and Ca(+2) ions were measured by a potentiometric method. Porosity, water sorption, and solubility were calculated through the measurement of initial mass, mass, saturated mass and dry mass. Apatite forming ability was measured by an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope that was connected to a secondary electron detector for energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Meanwhile compressive strength was measured by a computer controlled universal testing machine. Lap shear strength was measured by computer software on the testing machine. All data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The tested materials showed Ca ions release and alkalization, which decreased with soaking time. The BD exhibited a very high Ca release at both short (3 h) and long times (28 days). Significant high values of open and apparent porosities, water sorption, and solubility were measured for BS, which was followed by the MTA then BD (P < .05). The BD had significant higher compressive and lap shear bond strength than the MTA and BS (P < .05). CONCLUSION: MTA, BD and BS are biointeractive bioactive materials that possess the ability to release ions and form calcium phosphate deposits. Unlike BD, BS is incapable of alternating MTA in pulp capping due to its high porosities, water sorption and solubility, as well as poor compressive and lap shear bond strength.