Background:
This study was designed to investigate the
in vitro
bioactivity of a new dual cured calcium silicate cement (TheraCal PT) compared to its light cured (TheraCal LC) and chemically set (Biodentine) counterparts.
Materials and Methods:
The study is an
in vitro
original research article. Prepared cements discs were immersed in deionized water. Ca
2
+ release was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry while pH was assessed using a pH meter after 1, 14, and 28 days. Discs for surface characterization were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and were examined using an environmental scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (ESEM/EDX), immediately after setting and at 1, 14, and 28 days intervals after that. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR)/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy analyses were performed after setting and after 28 days storage in PBS. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-way repeated measure analysis of variance test followed by Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons (
P
< 0.05).
Results:
Biodentine exhibited the highest mean values for Ca
2
+ release (792,639,278 ppm) and pH (10.99, 12.7, 11.54) at all time intervals. ESEM/EDX displayed a continuous layer of calcium phosphate formed by Biodentine and TheraCal LC while TheraCal PT developed scarce interrupted precipitates after immersion in PBS. ATR/FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for the formed precipitates confirmed the presence of phosphate and Ca (OH)
2
in Biodentine, TheraCal LC and TheraCal PT.
Conclusion:
TheraCal PT exhibited limited
in vitro
bioactivity which may limit its prognosis in clinical applications for vital pulp therapy. TheraCal LC is considered a potential bioactive calcium silicate cement despite its lower Ca
2
+ release compared to Biodentine. Highest bioactivity was observed in Biodentine.