Objective: This study assessed tissue responses after furcation perforation and immediate sealing with either Biodentine™ or MTA Angelus™.
Material and methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were used (n = 6 per group/period). The mandibular first molars had the furcation mechanically exposed and sealed with either MTA or Biodentine™ and restored with silver amalgam. In an additional test group, teeth were sealed only with Biodentine™. Furcation sealing with gutta-percha and silver amalgam restoration served as positive control, and healthy untreated teeth were the negative control. Histological evaluation was performed after 14 or 21 days. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post hoc tests were performed to analyze the extent and intensity of tissue inflammation, bone resorption, and cementum repair (p < 0.05).
Results: Biodentine™ and MTA presented satisfactory results, showing a milder inflammatory response when compared to the control, regardless of the material used for coronal sealing and of the experimental period evaluated (p < 0.0001). All test groups showed less bone resorption than the positive control after 21 days (p < 0.05), and such differences were more pronounced in teeth restored with silver amalgam. Cementum repair was performed in 30% of MTA and Biodentine™ samples but not carried out in any positive control specimen.
Conclusions: Biodentine™ and MTA promoted similar responses when used to seal furcation perforations and should therefore be regarded as a promising alternative.
Clinical relevance: Knowledge about tissue responses to restorative materials is essential for improving root perforation sealing protocols. The present results showed that both Biodentine™ and MTA promoted appropriate periradicular tissue reactions in a preclinical test for evaluating furcation perforation treatments.
Keywords: Biodentine; Furcation perforation; Mineral trioxide aggregate; Repair.