Comparison between gutta-percha and Resilon retreatment

Retreatment procedures in endodontic practice require complete removal of the original root filling materials. The aim of this study was to compare the amount of residual filling material on the walls of root canals that were obturated with gutta-percha or Resilon. Thirty extracted single-rooted human teeth were selected and instrumented by RaCe rotary instruments up to MAF #35. They were randomly divided into two groups of 15 teeth each. Group 1 was obturated with gutta-percha and AH26 sealer and group 2 was obturated with the Resilon/Epiphany system by lateral condensation technique. All canals were then retreated using Gates-Glidden drills, MAF #40 and chloroform. The teeth were split longitudinally and photographs were taken by a digital camera connected to a stereomicroscope and then samples were analyzed. The amount of residual material and time of retreatment were determined in each group at three levels in the canal. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. The Resilon group had significantly more residual material in the canal than the Gutta-percha group (P = 0.009). According to the level of the canal, the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.013) only in the Resilon group. Time required for retreatment in the two groups was not significantly different (P = 0.381). Orthograde retreatment of Resilon was less efficient than that of gutta-percha.