An In Vitro Comparative Evaluation of Apical Leakage Using Different Root Canal Sealers

BACKGROUND Successful endodontic therapy requires a fluid-tight apical seal. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the apical sealing ability of 3 root canal sealers: Apexit Plus, AH Plus, and Resilon/Epiphany sealers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Samples of 152 single-rooted teeth were divided into 2 test groups, and each group was divided into 3 subgroups based on the preparation and obturation technique. After preparation with the step-back technique, the first group of root canals were obturated with lateral gutta-percha compaction in combination with AH Plus sealer or Apexit Plus or with the Resilon/Epiphany system alone. In the second group, preparation was done with the crown-down technique and root canals were then obturated with Thermafil obturator in combination with AH Plus or Apexit Plus or with Resilon/Epiphany sealer alone. Apical leakage was determined using a dye leakage test observed with a stereomicroscope. The degree of dye leakage was assessed using the t test to comparing the arithmetic averages of the groups. RESULTS In the groups prepared with the step-back technique, the average dye leakage was lower in samples obturated with Resilon/Epiphany, than in those filled with AH Plus/lateral gutta-percha compaction or Apexit Plus/lateral gutta-percha compaction. In groups prepared with the crown-down technique and obturated with the Resilon/Epiphany system, the average dye leakage was lower than in those filled with AH Plus/Thermafil obturation and those filled with Apexit Plus/Thermafil obturation. CONCLUSIONS Although all preparation and obturation techniques showed dye penetration, the crown-down technique paired with the Resilon/Epiphany system showed the least leakage.