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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 1 | Page : 39-40 |
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Author's reply
Issam Khalil
Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| Date of Web Publication | 7-Aug-2013 |
Correspondence Address:
Issam Khalil
Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut
Lebanon
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Khalil I. Author's reply. Saudi Endod J 2013;3:39-40 |
Dear Editor,
I want to thank Prof. Saeed Asgary who is a reference in endodontic research for having appreciated our published manuscript (Biocompatibility assessment of modified Portland cement in comparison with MTA ® : In vivo and in vitro studies; Khalil et al. 2012;2:6-13) and for sending such interesting comments especially on the presence or absence of arsenic in the cement powder.
Modified Portland cement (MPC) powder is mainly composed of Portland cement (PC). PC may contain some heavy metals and contaminants. There has been a special concern regarding the presence of arsenic in this material. Arsenic is a metalloid encountered in water, air, and soil in both inorganic and organic forms and in different stages of oxidation. According to ISO 9917-120 standard, entitled Water based cements - Part 1: Powder/liquid acid-base cements (2003), a material to be used in dental procedures should contain no more arsenic than 2 mg/kg of cement. Several studies [1],[2],[3],[4] analyzing the composition of PC and several MTA powders do not mention the presence of arsenic as a component, indicating that, if present, its concentration is minimal and within the ISO-recommended limit thus demonstrating no contraindication for the use of these materials in clinical practice.
Concerning MPC, the PC used for this material is specially manufactured by MicroMega under controlled, clean, and segregated conditions to ensure freedom from contamination.
However, Prof. Saeed Asgary has encouraged us to initiate a new study to verify if MPC complies with the ISO-recommended limit for water-based cements of 2 mg arsenic/kg material. Therefore, the purpose of this comparative study is to quantify, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the amount of arsenic in MPC and 2 MTAs (ProRoot and MTA-Angelus).
| References | |  |
| 1. | Estrela C, Bammann LL, Estrela CR, Silva RS, Pécora JD. Antimicrobial and chemical study of MTA, Portland cement, calcium hydroxide paste, Sealapex and Dycal. Braz Dent J 2000;11:3-9. 
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| 2. | Funteas UR, Wallace JA, Fochtman EW. A comparative analysis of mineral trioxide aggregate and Portland cement. Aust Endod J 2003;29:43-4.
[PUBMED] |
| 3. | Tenório de Franca TR, da Silva RJ, Sedycias de Queiroz M, Aguiar CM. Arsenic content in Portland cement: A literature review. Indian J Dent Res 2010;21:591-5.
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| 4. | Duarte MA, De Oliveira Demarchi AC, Yamashita JC, Kuga MC, De Campos Fraga S. Arsenic release provided by MTA and Portland cement. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2005;99:648-50.
[PUBMED] |
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