Analysis of chemical elements and heavy metals in MTA Fillapex and AH plus

Abstract

Aim: The aims of this study were to analyze the chemical constitution and the presence of heavy metals in MTA Fillapex and AH Plus sealers. Methods: The main components of the sealers were analyzed by using a Scanning Electron Microscopy equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX), and the concentration of 11 heavy metals (arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc) was measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Results: SEM/EDX revealed that MTA Fillapex contained silicon (16.79 wt%), calcium (14.87 wt%), bismuth (18.37 wt%), carbon (17.79 wt%) and oxygen (26.29 wt%), and AH Plus, zirconium (31.16 wt%), tungsten (15.72 wt%), carbon (34.98 wt%) and oxygen (14.36 wt%). AAS revealed increased levels of arsenic, copper, chromium, iron, nickel and zinc in AH Plus, and of bismuth, calcium and lead in MTA Fillapex. Conclusions: The chemical composition of MTA Fillapex and AH Plus was in accordance to MSDS provided by manufacturers. Evidence of the presence of heavy metals was found in both root canal sealers.