​This past March, Ultradent introduced MTAFlow™ (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) repair cement, made especially for pulpotomies, pulp capping, root-end filling, apexification, perforation repair, and root resorption.

MTA endodontic repair cements, including MTAFlow repair cement, are used in numerous endodontic procedures to form a layer of hydroxyapatite after the clinician expresses the product into the canal. Dr. Carlos Ramos, an endodontist, says, "One of the truly beneficial advancements in dentistry has been the introduction of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) repair cements into endodontic treatment. The development of bioceramic-based materials has greatly improved pulp cappings, pulpotomies, the treatment of open apices, apicoectomies (retrograde fillings), and accidental perforation and resorption repairs."

Yes, the chemistry itself has indeed greatly improved the science and practice of endodontics for patients and clinicians alike, but it hasn't been without its downfalls.  Dr. Ramos continues, "Even though MTA has proven to be an excellent repair material, the biggest weakness of both white and gray MTA cements is that they are not easy to use. The delivery of MTA to different sites inside the tooth has emerged as a major challenge. The handling of MTA based on powder and pure water mixtures resembles the handling of wet sand in some aspects, or it loses consistency in the presence of excess liquid, even at the proportions recommended by the manufacturer. MTA is not easy to mix and even harder to deliver to the right spot without making a mess, as it can stick to metal instruments better than it attaches to the cavity walls or to itself. A variety of different tools and guns have appeared on the market to facilitate the placement of MTA without presenting the proposed easy and accurate delivery."

However, Ultradent's MTAFlow repair cement, thanks to its ultrafine-grained powder and proprietary gel mixing medium, allows for quick and easy mixing to achieve a smooth consistency to the clincian's desired thickness. In fact, MTAFlow cement is the only mineral trioxide aggregate repair cement specifically designed for smooth and easy expression through a tip as small as the 29 ga NaviTip^® tip.

Additionally, with MTAFlow repair cement, various textures can be achieved by varying the ratio of the fine powder and water-based proprietary gel. A thin consistency can be delivered through a delivery tip for applications which demand more accuracy and control, such as apexification, resorption, or an apical plug procedure. A thicker consistency allows for pulp capping, pulp chamber perforation, and pulpotomy procedures. Mixing MTAFlow repair cement into a putty-like consistency allows the clinician to perform root filling procedures as well.