Tag Archive for: Apexification

Trauma to the dentition during the period of root formation may cause incomplete development of root resulting in open apex. In order to eliminate infection from root canal endodontic treatment is a tooth-saving treatment modality. The absence of a natural apical constriction in a nonvital permanent tooth makes endodontic treatment a challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to induce or create an apical barrier against, which the obturating material can be condensed. Traditionally, calcium hydroxide is considered as the gold standard to induce apexification. Due to certain drawbacks such as very long treatment period, possibility of tooth fracture, and incomplete apical barrier formation, it is being replaced by materials, which have a more predictable outcome like mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). One-step apexification with MTA reduces the treatment time when compared with traditional calcium hydroxide apexification, which requires an average time of 12–19 months. Also, MTA has various other superior properties compared to calcium hydroxide that are discussed below in detail along with successful treatment of an immature permanent tooth with open apex wherein MTA was used for one-step apexification.