An in vitro study of apical and coronal microleakage of laterally condensed gutta percha with Ketac‐Endo and AH‐26

Abstract

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare both apical and coronal dye penetration when Ketac-Endo and AH-26 sealers were used with laterally condensed gutta percha. Crowns were removed from 28 teeth and the root canals were biomechanically prepared. The teeth were divided into two groups of 12 teeth each and a control g r o u p of 4 teeth. Root canals in the two experimental groups were filled with laterally condensed gutta percha and either Ketac-Endo or AH-26 sealer. The Ketac-Endo group had the coronal 3 mm of gutta percha and sealer removed and the resultant cavity was filled with Ketac-Endo alone. After the sealers had set, the root surfaces were coated with nail varnish except at the apex and at the coronal end. Positive controls had no root fillings and were coated with nail varnish in the same manner while the negative controls were sealed apically and coronally with Cavit prior to sealing the entire external root surface with nail varnish. Specimens were placed in 2% methylene blue dye in a vacuum of 660 mm of mercury for five minutes and then left immersed for a further two days. The roots were vertically sectioned to determine the following mean levels of dye penetration: Ketac-Endo, 1.08 mm apically and 6.29 mm coronally; AH-26, 0.75 mm apically and 6.67 mm coronally. Positive controls had total leakage and negative controls had no leakage. This study demonstrated that the apical and coronal seals obtained with Ketac-Endo and AH-26 were not significantly different although the apical seal obtained with each material was significantly better than the corresponding coronal seal.

Methodologies for assessment of apical and coronal leakage of endodontic filling materials: a critical review

“…Leakage may, however, occur at the interfaces between the sealer and dentin, sealer and gutta-percha and in spaces within the sealer itself. Thus, the quality of the filling depends largely on the sealing capacity offered by sealers (7,8).…”

“…Leakage may, however, occur at the interfaces between the sealer and dentin, sealer and gutta-percha and in spaces within the sealer itself. Thus, the quality of the filling depends largely on the sealing capacity offered by sealers (7,8).Methodologies in vitro are used to estimate sealing quality, generally by measuring microleakage that allows the tracer agent to penetrate the filled canal. Commonly used tracers are dyes, radioisotopes, bacteria and their products, such as endotoxins.…”

Sealing ability of hydroxyapatite as a root canal sealer: in vitro study

“…Thus, the quality of the filling depends largely on the sealing capacity offered by sealers. 22,23 From this study an average leakage values of Zn O base sealer and CaOH base sealer both were minimum of 1 mm to maximum of 3 mm. The lesser value of dye penetration shown by value added HA sealer in the present study may be because of the better sealing abilities of HA.…”

Comparison of coronal leakage after smear layer removal with EDTA or Er:YAG laser

“…Contamination of the sealed root canal has been observed after 20 to 90 days (4,5). However, it is known that when the coronal portion of the sealed root canal is exposed to the oral flora, bacteria may enter the apical tissue.…”

“…The quality of the obturation is related to various factors such as: obturation technique, sealer, root canal preparation and irrigation solution used for smear layer removal (1). Many studies have evaluated the efficiency of the obturation of the root canal from the apical direction, and in the last two decades, researchers have begun evaluating coronal leakage (2)(3)(4).…”