A Perfect Partner for the COVID-19 Pandemic

Juan F. Yepes, DDS, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH, on Biodentine®

I am originally from Colombia, South America, where I earned degrees in both dentistry and medicine. After practicing in Bogota, I moved to the United States and continued my education in radiology, oral medicine, public health, and pediatric dentistry. I've spent time teaching, lecturing, and in private practice, and through all of the aspects of my career, the need for high-quality products has remained constant. During the unprecedented time of COVID-19, this has become more important than ever. I am regularly reminded of how valuable certain key products are in my practice, and one of them is Biodentine^® from Septodont.

Biodentine is a calcium silicate-based material that became commercially available in 2009. It was specifically designed as a "dentin substitute," and its spectrum of applications is wide. Biodentine can be used in endodontic repairs, for indirect and direct pulp capping, as a liner, and for dentin replacement in restorative dentistry. Biodentine's composition consists of a powder (ie, tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, calcium carbonate, oxide filler, iron oxide shade, zirconium oxide) and a liquid (ie, calcium chloride, hydrosoluble polymer).

One of the primary advantages of Biodentine is the setting time, which is only around 9 to 12 minutes. There is a significant difference in the setting time of Biodentine when compared with other similar cements, such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). In addition, the compression strength of Biodentine is similar to that of natural dentin, and the use of an etchant over the material does not affect its strength. Another critical feature of Biodentine is its porosity. Because of its low water content, the porosity of the material is lower when compared with other similar materials. This is a significant benefit when a perfect seal is essential to a procedure's success, such as in a direct pulp cap treatment.

Thanks to the presence of zirconium in Bio-dentine's composition, the material's radiopacity is ideal, allowing the practitioner to easily visualize it on radiographs. The antibacterial properties of Biodentine are attributed to the high pH of the material, which is approximately 12. This high alkalinity has an inhibitory effect on the growth of microorganisms. Furthermore, Biodentine demonstrates outstanding biocompatibility-a benefit that has been explored in multiple studies when the material is placed with fibroblasts from the pulp.

SARS-CoV-2 can be potentially transmitted through aerosols during treatments in dentistry; therefore, treatments associated with less aerosol generation are ideal during the pandemic. In this regard, the performance of minimally invasive restorative dentistry provides an excellent alternative for the practicing dentist, and Biodentine can help to successfully facilitate that.

Key Takeaways

1. Biodentine is a highly biocompatible material when in the presence of pulp fibroblasts, making it ideal for direct pulp cap treatments

2. The material's high pH of approximately 12 has an inhibitory effect on the growth of microorganisms

3. Biodentine's low porosity makes it an excellent material to obtain a perfect seal that will prevent oral fluids from leaking into the preparation

4. During the COVID-19 pandemic, dental treatments that are less invasive and generate less aerosols are excellent alternatives, and Biodentine offers ideal characteristics for use in minimally invasive treatments

About the Author

Juan F. Yepes, DDS, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH
Professor
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Indiana University
School of Dentistry
Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana

Manufacturer Information
Septodont
septodontusa.com
800-872-8305