Abstract
“Vitapex” is a root canal filling material which is composed of 33.3% calcium hydroxide,22.4% silicone,40.4% iodoform and others. It is widely used not only for permanent teeth but also for deciduous teeth because of its ease of handling and good clinical prognosis. This material used in the root canal is said to be resorbed in accordance with the root resorption of the deciduous teeth but whether it can be removed by the body is unclear. Silicone, which is a most biocompatible material used in the field of constructive operations does not seem to be resorbed and discharged by the body. The present study was undertaken to decide whether the disappearance of the root canal filling material on the X-ray photo meant the real disappearance of the material or not.
We implanted the root canal filling material in the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of rats and took X-ray photos regularly. The implanted material was collected and its silicone content was checked using infrared spectroscopic analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.
The following conclusions were demonstrated in this study.
1. Although “Vitapex ” lost its radio opaqueness within 2-3 weeks after implantation, silicone containing residues of “Vitapex” remained in the implanted area. This result means that the disappearance of radio opaqueness in X-ray photos does not necessarily involve the disappearance of the material.
2. The quantitative analysis indicated that almost 100% of the silicone in “Vitapex” remain ed at the implanted area even after 3 months.
3. Calcium carbonate was detected in the residue of “Vitapex” 2 weeks after the implantation but calcium hydroxide, one of the ingredients of the “Vitapex” could not be found. This fact suggested that calcium hydroxide in the “Vitapex” was neutralized to calcium carbonate in the subcutaneous tissue.
