Leakage evaluation of root end filling materials using endotoxin.

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been shown to possess excellent sealing ability when tested with dye, bacteria, and a fluid filtration technique. Endotoxin, a component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of periradicular lesions. This study used a modified Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test for the presence of endotoxin as a tracer and compared the sealing ability of Super-EBA, IRM, amalgam, and MTA. The results showed that MTA permitted less endotoxin leakage than IRM and amalgam at 1, 2, 6, and 12 wk (p < 0.05), and leaked less than Super-EBA at 2 and 12 wk (p < 0.05).