Effect of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and maleic acid as root-end conditioners on the sealing ability of ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine as root-end filling materials: An in vitro study.

Background: Apicoectomy is often required to treat a non-healing endodontic lesion. Materials used during this procedure, such as root-end conditioners and retrograde filling materials, can significantly affect the success. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been used as a root-end filling material for a long time; however, success has also been reported with some novel materials such as Biodentine. The present study compared the sealing ability of MTA and Biodentine in root-end cavities following apicoectomy after using EDTA and maleic acid as root-end conditioners.

Methods: The apical one-third of 60 extracted teeth were resected, followed by root-end preparation of 3 mm. The samples were divided into 4 groups of 15 each. The roots in groups 1 and 2 were conditioned with EDTA and maleic acid in groups 3 and 4. Retrograde cavities in groups 1 and 3 were filled with MTA and in groups 2 and 4 with Biodentine. Microleakage was checked using the dye penetration method. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were used for statistical analyses.

Results: Group 1 showed the highest (2.94±0.112), while group 4 had the least dye penetration (2.55±0.213).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that Biodentine showed better sealing ability after using maleic acid than MTA and can be used as an alternative to MTA in root-end surgeries.