Purpose:
Evaluate the ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and amalgam to seal furcal perforations in extracted human molars using an anaerobic bacterial leakage model.
Materials/Methods:
N=42 extracted molars, removed occlusal surface and last 5mm of roots, perforations opened to size #80 file, randomly selected half for MTA and half for amalgam, tested to see the leakage F. nucleatum
Results:
8 of 18 amalgam repairs leaked at 45 days
0 of 18 MTA repairs leaked at 45 days
Clinical Significance:
MTA may be a better material than amalgam at sealing perforations possibly due to its hydrophilic properties along with its similar mineral composition to dentin