MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate)
MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) is a biocompatible cement material used in root canal treatment. It sets even in a moist environment, seals gaps tightly as it sets, and doesn't interfere with the healing of surrounding tissue — properties that make it a go-to solution for a number of tricky situations.
Where it's used
It has three main uses: ① covering a nerve slightly exposed by deep decay, to save it (direct pulp capping), ② repairing a hole (perforation) in the root, and ③ sealing the cut root-tip surface in an apicoectomy. All three share the same requirement — a reliable seal in a moist environment.
Q. Does a nerve-saving treatment with MTA always succeed?
A. It depends on the extent of exposure, the degree of contamination, and the age of the tooth. When it succeeds, there's a real benefit in keeping the tooth's vitality without root canal treatment, so it's worth trying first when conditions allow — and if it doesn't work out, we switch to root canal treatment at that point.
Minish