Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

Which is an advantage of MTA in dental procedures?

1. Inflammatory response

2. Radiopaque property

3. Limited sealing ability

4. Low pH

The correct answer is: Radiopaque property

The advantage of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in dental procedures is its radiopaque property. This characteristic allows dental practitioners to easily visualize the material in radiographs, which is crucial for assessing the location, integrity, and effectiveness of the treatment over time. Radiopacity benefits the practitioner during follow-up evaluations, ensuring that the material can be distinctly identified against surrounding tissues. In contrast, while an inflammatory response can occur following some dental procedures, it is not considered an advantage of MTA. Limited sealing ability does not represent a benefit, as MTA is known for its excellent sealing properties. The low pH of MTA when mixed is also not favorable, as a more neutral pH generally promotes biocompatibility and reduces irritation to surrounding tissues. Therefore, the radiopaque property stands out as a significant advantage of using MTA in various dental applications, such as pulp capping, apexification, and root-end fillings.