Dentin bonding and sealing ability of a new root canal resin sealer

The aims of this study were to find a dentin bonding system suitable for root canal treatment using a newly developed root canal resin sealer, and to examine its sealing ability. The sealer was composed of vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, methyl methacrylate, zirconia, and tributylborane catalyst. The effects of dentin conditioners and primers on dentin bonding were studied by tensile bond strength testing and scanning electron microscopy. Apical and coronal leakage were evaluated at 1-, 4-, and 12-wk intervals by a dye penetration test using a methylene blue solution. Pulp Canal Sealer EWT and Sealapex were used as controls. Significantly high bond strength was obtained by treating dentin with EDTA, followed by application of a glutaraldehyde/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate primer. The experimental resin sealer produced a significantly superior coronal seal at 12 wk when compared with the two control sealers (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed few gaps at the resin sealer-dentin interface.