The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of MTAD, EDTA and sodium hypochlorite(NaOCl) as final irrigants on coronal leakage resistance to Enterococcus faecalis. Forty extracted human maxillary molars were used in this experiment. The teeth were randomly divided into positive control group (Group 1; n = 5), negative control group (Group 2; n = 5) and three experimental groups (n = 30). In Group 3 (n = 10), the root canals were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite. In Group 4 (n = 10) and 5 (n = 10), the root canals were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and rinsed with EDTA and MTAD, respectively. The teeth in each group were cleaned and shaped to #40 profile with .04 taper, and obturated with gutta-percha and AH-26 root canal sealer. The coronal portion of each tooth was placed in contact with inoculum of Enterococcus faecalis in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) culture media. Each root tip was placed in a vial containing sterile culture media. The vials were placed in anaerobic chamber and observed everyday for turbidity for 180 days. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's Exact Test. After 180 days, Group 3, 4, and 5 showed 7, 4 and 5 leaking samples respectively. The differences in leakage resistance were not statistically significant among Group 3, 4 and 5.

The aim of this study was to compare the compositions and cytotoxicity of white ProRoot MTA (white mineral trioxide aggregate) and 3 kinds of Portland cements. The elements, simple oxides and phase compositions of white MTA (WMTA), gray Portland cement (GPC), white Portland cement (WPC) and fast setting cement (FSC) were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Agar diffusion test was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity of WMTA and 3 kinds of Portland cements.

The results showed that WMTA and WPC contained far less magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) than GPC and FSC. FSC contained far more aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) than WMTA, GPC, and WPC. WMTA, GPC, WPC and FSC were composed of main phases, such as tricalcicium silicate (3CaO·SiO₂), dicalcium silicate (2CaO·SiO₂), tricalcium aluminate (3CaO·Al₂O₃), and tetracalcium aluminoferrite (4CaO·Al₂O₃·Fe₂O₃). The significance of the differences in cellular response between WMTA, GPC, WPC and FSC was statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis Exact test with Bonferroni's correction. The result showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05).

WMTA, GPC, WPC and FSC showed similar compositions. However there were notable differences in the content of minor elements, such as aluminum (Al), magnesium, iron, manganese, and zinc. These differences might influence the physical properties of cements.