A method of treatment of the dental pulp and filling root canals using water-based materials

A composition for use in the treatment of a root canal in a tooth, said composition being a hydrate gel that can harden, which is formed by mixing together a particulate and a liquid carrier, wherein the composition comprises: (A) 1 to 80% by weight of particulate material selected from the group consisting of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, silica, alumina, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof; and (B) 1 to 50% by weight liquid carrier comprising (i) water-sodble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP), partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates (PVAc), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and polymethacrylic acid (PMA), and copolymers and mixtures thereof, (ii) 1 to 40 % by weight based on the weight of the composition, of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, and sarcosinates, and mixtures thereof, and (iii) water, the ratio of the surfactant to water-soluble polymer being no greater than 6 to 1.