First developed in 1993, bioceramic dental cements have certainly evolved over the years, and in 1998 the first Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) was commercialised. An extremely versatile material, MTA has a wide range of clinical application.
Recognising this, Ultradent developed MTAFlow™, a revolutionary repair cement designed especially for the following procedures:
MTA Flow (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) repair cement is designed to mix quickly, smoothly and easily into the right consistency for a variety of procedures. Plus, it can be delivered using Ultradent's syringes and tips, ensuring precise placement for effective treatment:
MTA endodontic repair cements, including MTAFlow repair cement, are used in numerous endodontic procedures to form a layer of hydroxyapatite after the clinician expresses the product into the canal. Dr Carlos Ramos, an endodontist, says, "One of the truly beneficial advancements in dentistry has been the introduction of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) repair cements into endodontic treatment. The development of bioceramic-based materials has greatly improved pulp cappings, pulpotomies, the treatment of open apices, apicoectomies (retrograde fillings), and accidental perforation and resorption repairs."
Yes, the chemistry itself has indeed greatly improved the science and practice of endodontics for patients and clinicians alike, but it hasn't been without its downfalls. Dr Ramos continues, "Even though MTA has proven to be an excellent repair material, the biggest weakness of both white and grey MTA cements is that they are not easy to use. The delivery of MTA to different sites inside the tooth has emerged as a major challenge. The handling of MTA based on powder and pure water mixtures resembles the handling of wet sand in some aspects, or it loses consistency in the presence of excess liquid, even at the proportions recommended by the manufacturer. MTA is not easy to mix and even harder to deliver to the right spot without making a mess, as it can stick to metal instruments better than it attaches to the cavity walls or to itself. A variety of different tools and guns have appeared on the market to facilitate the placement of MTA without presenting the proposed easy and accurate delivery."
Additionally, with MTAFlow repair cement, various textures can be achieved by varying the ratio of the fine powder and water-based proprietary gel. A thin consistency can be delivered through a delivery tip for applications which demand more accuracy and control, such as apexification, resorption, or an apical plug procedure. A thicker consistency allows for pulp capping, pulp chamber perforation, and pulpotomy procedures. Mixing MTAFlow repair cement into a putty-like consistency allows the clinician to perform root filling procedures as well.
For more information, to buy MTA Flow, call 01943 605 050, email sales@optident.co.uk or visit www.optident.co.uk