Physical properties of new calcium phosphate root canal sealers and tissue response of rat subcutaneous and periapical tissues to these sealers

Abstract

We attempted to develop new root canal sealers containing calcium phosphates. Two contained α-tricalcium phosphate set by kneading with citric acid and a tannic acid solution. The other was composed of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate set by McIlvain's solution. We examined the physical properties of these sealers and found that they had significantly better apical sealing ability than commercially available sealers. The solubility was greater than 4% except for the tetracalcium phosphate containing sealer. Histological examination revealed that when the new sealers were implanted subcutaneously, they had less encapsulation and a milder inflammatory reaction than commercially available sealers. In addiation, the inflammatory reaction of the periapical tissue was mild to moderate, and the new sealers occasionally induced hard tissue deposition at the apex.