Root Canals – Why Calcium Oxide?
Calcium Oxide has two very important properties when it comes to treating root canals—it kills bacteria because of its extremely alkaline pH and it penetrates the tooth’s porous anatomy where bacteria can hide.
When calcium oxide comes in contact with the water, it reacts to form calcium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide is commonly used in dentistry as a disinfectant because of its high alkalinity (pH 10 –11), which is inhospitable to bacteria. Calcium hydroxide also seems to have a stimulatory effect on bone cells.
Calcium oxide is also strongly hygroscopic, which means it attracts water and will expand through a water layer. This gives it the ability to actively diffuse through the microscopic spaces of a tooth and penetrate to the outer tooth surface.1-3
The calcium oxide filling material takes 5- 7 days to harden by reacting with carbon dioxide from the surrounding cellular environment to form calcium carbonate. Although a second appointment is required to check the hardness of the filling material, we feel the opportunity for enhanced disinfection outweighs any inconvenience of a second visit.
For more information see The Open Dentistry Journal article Calcium Oxide as a Root Filling Material: A Three-Year Prospective Clinical Outcome Study
More About Root Canal Therapy
- What is a Root Canal?
- What are the Dangers of Root Canals?
- What is the Alternative to Traditional Root Canal Treatment?
- Why Calcium Oxide
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- Minana M, Carnes DL, Walker WL. pH changes at the surface of root dentin after intracanal dressing with calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide. J Endodon 2001; 27:43-45.
- Guigand M, Vulcain JM, Dautel-Morazin A, Bonnaure-Mallet M. An ultrastructural study of root canal walls in contact with endodontic biomaterials. J Endodon 1997; 23:327-330.
- Guigand M, Vulcain JM, Dautel-Morazin A, Bonnaure-Mallet M. In vitro study of intradental calcium diffusion induced by two endodontic biomaterials. J Endodon 1997; 23:387-390.
Disclaimer: Most dentists are not of the view that root canals are harmful to your health.
