Micro-computed tomographic evaluation of single-cone obturation with three sealers

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims to create a fluid-tight seal to prevent bacterial ingress.
• Voids within the obturation can compromise the long-term success of endodontic treatment.
• Evaluating new sealer materials for improved void reduction and interface adaptation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the void content and interface characteristics of single-cone obturation using AH Plus, EndoSequence BC, and prototype S-PRG sealers.
• To quantify sealer contact at dentin-gutta-percha interfaces using micro-computed tomography (µCT).

Main Methods:

• Fifteen single-rooted human teeth were shaped and obturated with a single-cone technique using one of three sealers: AH Plus, EndoSequence BC, or prototype S-PRG.
• Micro-computed tomography (µCT) was employed to analyze sagittal scans, measuring volumes of gutta-percha (GP), sealer, and voids.
• Image analysis quantified GP-sealer and dentin-sealer contact ratios.

Main Results:

• Prototype S-PRG sealer exhibited the lowest void percentage (1.0%), significantly lower than AH Plus (10.1%) and EndoSequence BC (5.9%).
• GP volume was highest with S-PRG (94.4%), followed by EndoSequence BC (87.3%) and AH Plus (75.5%).
• Dentin-sealer contact was comparable between S-PRG (70.2%) and EndoSequence BC (71.6%), while GP-sealer contact was highest for S-PRG (87.0%).

Conclusions:

• Prototype S-PRG sealer achieved a low-void obturation, comparable in quality to EndoSequence BC sealer.
• Both S-PRG and EndoSequence BC sealers demonstrated favorable dentin-sealer and GP-sealer contact ratios.
• The findings suggest prototype S-PRG sealer is a promising alternative for achieving effective root canal obturation.