MTA apexification combined with conventional root canal retreatment.

Apexification aims to induce apical closure of the open root apex with a hard-tissue barrier, against which a root filling can be compacted. Despite the popularity of the apexification procedure, calcium hydroxide therapy has some disadvantages that include variability of treatment time, unpredictability of apical closure, difficulties with patient follow-up and delayed treatment. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a potential apical barrier material with good sealability and a high degree of biocompatibility. This paper demonstrates the placement of an apical barrier using MTA as an alternative to conventional long-term calcium hydroxide therapy.