Efficacy of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate as an Apical Plug in Non-Vital Young Permanent Teeth: Preliminary Results

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) clinically and radiographically as material used to induce root end closure in nonvital permanent teeth with immature apices (apexification) in children. METHODS: The study included 30 non vital young permanent, single rooted teeth of 22 children between 8 and 13 years of age. Treatment followed a standard non-surgical root canal treatment protocol and the root canal was filled with a apical plug of 4-5 mm of MTA (white MTA--Angelus, Brazil), followed by gutta-percha obturation. The children were reviewed for 1 year at 3 month interval and the teeth were assessed clinically and radiographically. RESULTS: MTA showed success rate of 100% both clinically and radiographically at the 12th months follow up and root end closure was seen in 86.6% of cases and root growth in 30% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: MTA showed clinical and radiographic success as an apexification material by inducing root end closure and root growth in non-vital young permanent teeth.