The objective of this study was to characterize the interface between dentin and
MTA-Angelus (Angelus, Londrina, Brasil), Biodentine (Septodont, France) and BIOfactor
MTA (Imicryl, Konya, Turkey) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy
disperse X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy
(CLSM). Fifteen dentin segments were obtained from previously extracted singlerooted
human teeth. Canal lumens were instrumented with diamond burs and then
randomly filled with MTA-Angelus, Biodentine or BIOfactor MTA and placed in distilled
water or Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for 28-days. The samples were
examined with SEM and the thickness of the interfacial layer measured. SEM-EDS
analysis was performed to determine principal elemental composition of the material,
dentin, and interfacial area. The marginal adaptation of cements to dentin was
assessed by confocal microscopy and the percentage of material penetration was calculated.
An interfacial layer was evident in approximately 70% of SEM images in both
MTA-Angelus and BIOfactor samples. The thickness of interfacial layer was significantly
higher in HBSS than in distilled water for all groups. MTA Angelus resulted in
the thickest interfacial layer in distilled water while Biodentine had the thickest interfacial
layer in HBSS. Calcium levels within the BIOfactor MTA–dentin interface were
higher than both dentin and cement. Dentin penetration was higher in BIOfactor
MTA and silicon was evident in all material-dentin interfaces. All calcium silicatebased
materials promoted the formation of an interfacial layer. BIOfactor MTA exhibited
promising characteristics with its good marginal adaptation even though it presented
a moderately thick interfacial layer.
Research Highlights
• A distinguishable interfacial layer was observed in most of the samples within the
BIOfactor MTA, MTA-Angelus and Biodentine groups.
• The elemental constitution of the interfacial layer was different from that of the
calcium silicate based materials.