Compressive strength of Biodentine®: mechanical vs. manual mix

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Economic circumstances may create difficulties in access to certain dental materials,
especially those that a part of their content has to be disposed after mixing. According to the manufacturers´
instructions, capsules of tri-calcium silicate Biodentine® (Septodont) ought to be activated using a
mechanical mixer after addition of the liquid accordingly. The whole content of a capsule is then used
before the setting of the material. Aim: To compare the effect of the mixing mode on the compressive
strength of Biodentine®, mixed manually and using a mechanical mixer.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of the mixing mode on the compressive strength of Biodentine®,
mixed manually and using a mechanical mixer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Two groups were defined, A) Biodentine® / Manual mix and B)
Biodentine® / Mechanical mix, with n = 6 cylindric specimens each of 6 mm height and 4 mm diameter.
Samples were tested using a universal testing machine Digimess RS-8000-5 at a crosshead speed of 1
mm/min until fracture. Obtained values were compared using the Student-t test with a significance of
p>0,05.
RESULTS: Mean values were A) 52.6 (16.3) MPa and B) 65.7 (30.6) MPa respectively, finding no
significant differences between the two groups (p=3,77).
CONCLUSION: Compressive strength is not affected in Biodentine® when mixed manually compared to
mechanical mixing.