MTA applications in pediatric dentistry.

The aim of this paper is to show and asses the clinical applications of the Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) in pediatric dentistry, either on primary teeth or on immature apex permanent teeth. We have described the primary tooth pulpotomy technique using MTA, that is characterized by a superior biocompatibility and a sealing ability that make it a more suitable compound compared to other materials in terms of result prediction on a long-term basis. We have also reported the direct capping technique using MTA on immature apex teeth; in these particular cases, MTA is undoubtedly preferable to conventional materials, especially in what its sealing characteristics concern. Furthermore, we have explained the apexogenesis clinical procedure, in which after a chamber pulpotomy on incomplete root development teeth, MTA is used in direct contact with the pulpar stump in order to save the root pulp vitality, allowing the apex and relative canal walls physiological maturation to take place. In case of necrotic teeth with immature apex, we describe the possibility of using MTA as an apical barrier making the apexification treatment faster and predictable, taking profit from its biocompatibility quality, its sealing ability and setting characteristic in humid environments. In all described applications, MTA has demonstrated to be a very versatile and extremely trustworthy material. Either literature and results obtained from the present experience, show how the use of MTA in Pediatric Dentistry, compared to commonly used materials, translates into pulp or periapical tissues being less swollen and, thus, guaranteeing a higher prediction of the therapeutic result on a short-term basis and on a long-term one.