Effect of prior calcium hydroxide intracanal placement on sealing ability of MTA plugs

This study sought to investigate how pretreatment intracanal placement of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) affected the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) plugs in simulated open apices. Maxillary central incisor teeth were cleaned and shaped in an identical manner. After root-end resection, samples were divided randomly into 2 control (n = 5) and 2 experimental groups (n = 35). The specimens in Group 1 were pretreated using a Ca(OH)2 medicament, while the samples of Group 2 received no medicament. One week later, a 5 mm apical plug of MTA was applied into the canals. The remaining portions of the canals were obturated with gutta percha. Group 1 had a significantly higher frequency of apical leakage than Group 2 (P < 0.05).