Behavior of mineral trioxide aggregate apical plugs and root fillings under cyclic loading

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the present study was to develop a methodology for constant monitoring of the resistance to fluid flow during functional loading and to then compare the efficacy of 4-mm mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) apical plugs and full-length MTA root fillings.METHODS: The root canals of 24 single-rooted teeth were instrumented and assigned into two groups: group 1 (filled with a 4-mm MTA apical plug and gutta percha) and group 2 (filled with MTA to cementoenamel junction level). All teeth were subjected to stepwise cyclic loading with a constant simulated interstitial pressure of 25 cm H2 O applied apically. A Flodec machine (De Marco Engineering, Geneva, Switzerland) constantly monito..