USE OF MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE FOR REPAIR OF FURCAL PERFORATIONS

The histologic response to intentional perforation in the furcations o f 28 mandibular premolars in seven dogs was investigated. In half the teeth, the perforations were repaired immediately with either amalgam or mineral trioxide aggregate; in the rest the perforations were left open to salivary contamination before repair. All repaired perforation s were left for 4 months before histologic examination of vertical sec tions through the site. In the immediately repaired group, all the ama lgam specimens were associated with inflammation, whereas only one of six with mineral trioxide aggregate was; further, the five noninflamed mineral trioxide aggregate specimens had some cementum over the repai r material. In the delayed group, all the amalgam specimens were assoc iated with inflammation; in contrast only four of seven filled with th e aggregate were inflamed. On the basis of these results, it appears t hat mineral trioxide aggregate is a far more suitable material than am algam for perforation repair, particularly when used immediately after perforation.