Marginal gaps and voids using two warm compaction techniques and different sealers: a micro-CT study

To assess the percentage of marginal gaps and voids in oval-shaped canals obturated by using two warm compaction techniques with a Bio-C sealer and AH Plus Jet.

Forty canines with oval canals were scanned by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and root canal preparation was performed with an XP-endo Shaper system and irrigated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Then, the specimens were paired into four groups (n=10) according to the root canal filling technique and endodontic sealer: Bio-C sealer and continuous wave of condensation, Bio-C sealer and Tagger's hybrid, AH Plus Jet and continuous wave of condensation, and AH Plus Jet and Tagger's hybrid. After root canal filling, a new scan was performed. The percentage of marginal gaps and voids was calculated with the ImageJ software, and the data were analyzed statistically using two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests, with a significance level of 5%.

The percentage of marginal gaps was significantly lower in the Bio-C sealer than in AH Plus Jet (p=0.021) regardless of the technique. However, no difference was found in the percentage of voids between root canal filling techniques and the endodontic sealer (p>0.05).

Both sealers and techniques demonstrated good quality of root canal filling. However, the use of the Bio-C sealer enhanced the filling ability by reducing marginal gaps, regardless of the root canal filling technique.

This study highlights the better performance of the Bio-C sealer in the quality of the root canal filling, reducing marginal gaps when compared to AH Plus Jet independent of the technique.