Evolution of mineral trioxide aggregate in pediatric dentistry: A narrative review

Aim: There has been a search for bioactive, biocompatible material for quite some time now which can be utilized for various endodontic procedures for better palliative care of teeth. These materials could reduce the chances of extraction of teeth. Here we will discuss the journey of MTA (mineral trioxide aggregate) as a unique, bio-active material from inception till now in pediatric dental practice. Materials and Methods: Web-based databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were explored from January 2012 till June 2022. Thus found types of writeups were review articles. This review article will give an insight into MTA—its evolution and use in pediatric dentistry. The following search terms were used: MTA (all fields, MeSH terms), AND pediatric dentistry (all fields) (MesH terms, all fields) AND advances (all fields) OR “Mineral” and “Trioxide” and “Aggregate” (all fields) OR pediatric and “Dentistry” (all fields) or “Advances.” An electronic literature search in PubMed database using the free-text terms “MTA”, and “Pediatric Dentistry” showed 253 articles from 2012 to 2022, of which 30 were review articles and systematic reviews. Results: The initial search retrieved 531 articles. After a full-text review of all the articles, only 12 were included. The original MTA has some known disadvantages, such as prolonged setting time, being expensive, and can lead to discoloration of tooth later in time. Owing to the disadvantages of the material, researchers have been searching materials which can show improved physiological, chemomechanical, and better biologic characteristics. Conclusion: MTA has come a long way as a bioceramic, bioactive material with improved physical and chemical properties. The introduction of newer fast-setting MTA and pre-mixed MTA have shown excellent handling properties. MTA is now getting more attention in pediatric dentistry as a bioactive agent with the scope for many studies and clinical trials.