Micro‐CT assessment of gap‐containing areas along the gutta‐percha‐sealer interface in oval‐shaped canals

Abstract

Aim: To assess the interfacial adaptation (gap-containing areas) of two root canal sealers (EndoSequence BC Sealer and AH Plus) to a conventional gutta-percha (GP) cone (GP-sealer interface) in oval-shaped canals filled using the single cone technique.Methodology: Sixteen teeth with oval-shaped canals were selected, scanned in a micro-computed tomographic device, and pair-matched according to the volume, aspect ratio and configuration of root canals. Root canals were then sequentially prepared with WaveOne Gold Primary and Large instruments, followed by filling with WaveOne Large GP points associated with either the premixed calcium-silicate EndoSequence BC Sealer or the epoxy resin-based AH Plus sealer (n = 8 per group) using the single cone technique. After 7 days stored in phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37°C, the specimens were rescanned and the reconstructed images segmented in order to differentiate the filling materials (sealer and GP cone) to the dentine. A total of 453 cross-sectional slices were assessed and categorized according to the presence or absence of gaps at the GP-sealer interface. Mann-Whitney U-test verified the differences between groups and were considered significant at alpha = 5%. Results: Gaps were non-homogenously distributed in two-dimensional axial crosssection images and none of the specimens showed completely gap-free areas along the entire GP-sealer interface. Root canals filled with EndoSequence BC Sealer and AH Plus displayed 171 (37.75%) and 136 (30.02%) slices with gaps in the GP-sealer interface and these frequencies were statistically significant (p = .000). Conclusions:Although none of the specimens had a gap-free area along the entire GP-sealer interface, oval canals filled with AH Plus showed less gaps than the ones filled with EndoSequence BC Sealer.

Heat-Induced Changes in the Physical Properties of a New Premixed Calcium Silicate-Containing Root Canal Sealer: An In Vitro Study

“…ES showed a similar tendency, although its setting time was within the ISO standard. The heat-induced increase in the film thickness of AHB indicates that the advantages of warm vertical compaction, such as a thinner sealer layer owing to the higher gutta-percha-filled rate [5] and decreased porosity [46], may not be fully exploited.…”

The ability of different compositions of calcium silicate and epoxy sealers to withstand gutta percha removal via in vitro pull-out testing

“…One possible explanation for this finding is that lowering tri- and di-calcium silicate levels decreases the expansion ability of TCS. A second option is that the change in sealer composition might have increased the gaps formation in the interphase GP cone – sealer, as was demonstrated by a recent work [ 11 ].…”

“…A recent micro-ct analysis [ 11 ] aimed to assess adaptation of epoxy sealer and a TCS sealer to GP cone by means of gap formation along the specimens. The authors concluded that while no specimens exhibited a completely gap-free area along the entire interface of GP-sealer, oval canals filled with AH Plus demonstrated fewer gaps compared to those filled with EndoSequence BC Sealer.…”

Epoxy vs. Calcium Silicate-Based Root Canal Sealers for Different Clinical Scenarios: A Narrative Review

“…Therefore, it is questionable whether these sealers are suitable in inflamed areas with a low pH value [49][50][51]. Other drawbacks of CSSs are that they might cause tooth discoloration [52,53], especially due to contamination with blood [54]; GP-sealer interfaces are more frequent in CSSs [55]. Moreover, they remain moderately cytotoxic over six weeks [41].…”