Sealing Ability of Endodontic Cements: An In Vitro Study

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Adhesive Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Root canal obturation requires a hermetic seal to prevent microbial and toxin penetration.
• Adhesive dentistry principles are increasingly applied in endodontics, with a rise in resin-based sealers.
• Evaluating the sealing efficacy of newer resin cements against traditional ones is vital for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the in vitro sealing ability of a resin cement (EndoREZ®) with a calcium hydroxide-based cement.
• To assess the effectiveness of different obturation combinations using resin cement and gutta-percha or resin cones.
• To determine the optimal material combination for achieving a superior hermetic seal in root canals.

Main Methods:

• Eighty prepared root canals were divided into four groups, each receiving a different obturation material combination.
• Root canals were obturated using the Tilos system.
• Sealing ability was evaluated using dye infiltration via stereomicroscope after diaphanization and the dye rise test.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in the number of infiltrated walls (p=0.014) and infiltration depth (p=0.025) were found among the four obturation systems.
• EndoREZ® resin cement with EndoREZ® gutta cones showed significantly better apical sealing than EndoREZ® cement with gutta-percha cones (p=0.011).
• A significant difference in sealing was observed between EndoREZ® with its own cones versus EndoREZ® cement alone (p=0.026).

Conclusions:

• EndoREZ® resin cement combined with EndoREZ® gutta cones provides the best sealing ability, especially in the apical region.
• When using standard gutta-percha cones, Acroseal and EndoREZ® cements exhibit comparable sealing capabilities.
• These findings support the use of resin-based obturation systems for enhanced root canal sealing.