Final answer:
MTA, or Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, has a pH above 10.2, meaning it is basic, and its high pH is crucial for its therapeutic actions which include stimulation of healing and tissue regeneration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question: What is the pH of MTA? What is its mechanism of action? refers to a material called Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), which is widely used in dentistry. The pH of MTA is typically above 10.2, indicating it is basic. MTA's mechanism of action involves its alkalinity, which plays a role in its ability to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration. When MTA comes into contact with tissue fluids, it sets and creates a very high pH environment, which can neutralize acidic conditions and may discourage bacterial growth.
MTA's high pH is beneficial because extremes of pH can have detrimental effects on proteins. Proteins tend to denature (lose their structure) when exposed to highly acidic or basic solutions. Most human pathogens are neutrophilic bacteria, meaning they prefer to grow in environments that are neutral in pH, typically around pH 7.