DISINTEGRATION OF ENDODONTIC CEMENTS IN WATER

The disintegration of three endodontic cements in water was determined quantitatively and qualitatively. The materials studied weve Ketac-En do (KE), Tubli Seal (TS), and AH26 (AH), Specimens were immersed in wa ter for 48 h (GI), 7 (GII) and 45 days (GIII), The solid residue was t hen determined, For the qualitative analysis three groups of tubes wer e filled with the materials and stored in water for the same periods, The exposed surface was photographed. Results expressed as percentage of original mass in the quantitative analysis for loss of mass due to desolution were: GI = KE 2.39 (0.70); TS 3.56 (0.37); AH 4.94 (2.83); GII = KE 2.84 (0.30); TS 2.50 (0.50); AH 0.66 (0.26); GIII = KE 1.60 ( 0.84); TS 1.03(0.42); AH 1.22 (0.54). Tukey's least significant differ ence (0.05) was 2.94. In the qualitative experiment KE disintegration was far move evident than that suffered by other materials. The quanti tative results had no correlation with the qualitative observations pr obably due to the difference in the moment when the materials were imm ersed.