Radiopacity evaluation of calcium silicate sealers using digital radiography

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to compare the radiopacity of calcium silicate sealers using a digital imaging method. Methods Four calcium silicate-containing sealers, NeoMTA2, BioMTA, ProRoot MTA, and Biodentine, were used in this study. Standard disk-shaped samples were prepared from each root canal filling material and placed on a plexiglass plate. An aluminum penetrometer was placed on a digital radiograph to obtain the irradiation parameters of 70 kVp, 8 mA, and 0.32 seconds. The object-beam distance was adjusted to 30 cm. The grayness values of the tested materials were measured digitally with the system software and compared with a penetrometer to determine the equivalent aluminum thickness. Results The radiopacity values of the studied materials in decreasing order, expressed in millimeters of aluminum equivalent, were ProRoot MTA (4.32), Biodentine (2.29), Bio MTA (3.92), and NeoMTA2 (3.83). Statistically significant differences were found between the mean radiographic density values of the tested materials (p < 0.005). Conclusion ProRoot MTA was the most radiopaque root canal filling material among the tested materials in this study. All materials, except Biodentine, are compliant with the minimum radiopacity standard recommended by the International Organization for Standardization and the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association.