Dentinal Tubule Penetration of a Calcium Silicate-based Root Canal Sealer with Different Obturation Methods

The purpose of this study was to investigate the depths of penetration of a calcium silicate-based sealer in dentinal tubules by using 3 different obturation methods.

One hundred extracted human permanent anterior teeth were endodontically prepared and divided equally into 3 experimental groups and 1 control group as follows: CPoint single cone (CPSC), gutta-percha single cone (GPSC), gutta-percha vertical condensation (GPVC), all with a calcium silicate-based sealer and calcium indicator Fluo-3, and CPoint single cone with a calcium indicator Fluo-3 (CPF3) without sealer as the control. The roots of the teeth in each group were axially cross-sectioned, and the surfaces were examined under confocal laser scanning microscopy at ×10 and ×20 magnifications. The sealer penetration depths were measured at their maximum depths and at 4 circumferential depths (12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock) by using fluorescence.

Statistical analyses by using one-way analysis of variance and repeated measures analysis with linear mixed models showed no statistically significant difference among the mean maximum depth measurements (CPSC, 283.83 μm; GPSC, 318.66 μm; and GPVC, 313.03 μm; P = .7553) and among the average depths across all points (CPSC, 111.24 μm; GPSC, 135.38 μm; and GPVC, 126.62 μm; P = .5304) for the 3 experimental groups.

The pressure derived from hygroscopic expansion of CPoint or warm vertical condensation did not enhance penetration depths of the calcium silicate-based sealer. Sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules occurred independent of the obturation technique.