Can strontium replace calcium in bioactive materials for dental applications?

The substitution of calcium with strontium in bioactive materials has been promising but there has been some concern over the material instability and possible toxicity. The aim of this research was the synthesis and characterization of calcium and strontium substituted bioactive materials and assessment of interactions with local tissues and peripheral elemental migration in an animal model. A bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite and hydraulic calcium silicate with 50% or 100% calcium substitution with strontium were developed and the set materials were characterized immediately after setting and after 30 and 180-days in solution.

Investigation of the hydration and bioactivity of radiopacified tricalcium silicate cement, Biodentine and MTA Angelus.

Objective: Novel root-end filling materials are composed of tricalcium silicate (TCS) and radiopacifier as opposed to the traditional mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) which is made up of clinker derived from Portland cement and bismuth oxide. The aim of this research was to characterize and investigate the hydration of a tricalcium silicate-based proprietary brand cement (Biodentine™) and a laboratory manufactured cement made with a mixture of tricalcium silicate and zirconium oxide (TCS-20-Z) and compare their properties to MTA Angelus™.

Methods: The materials investigated included a cement containing 80% of TCS and 20% zirconium oxide (TCS-20-Z), Biodentine™ and MTA Angelus™.