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

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Microscopic Imaging

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims to achieve a complete seal to prevent bacterial re-infection.
• Oval-shaped canals present unique challenges for achieving homogeneous filling.
• Evaluating endodontic sealers and obturation techniques is crucial for long-term treatment success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of Bio-C sealer and AH Plus Jet in obturating oval canals.
• To assess the impact of two warm compaction techniques on marginal gap formation.
• To quantify voids and marginal gaps using microcomputed tomography.

Main Methods:

• Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) was used to analyze 40 canine teeth with oval canals.
• Root canals were prepared with XP-endo Shaper and irrigated with sodium hypochlorite.
• Specimens were divided into four groups based on sealer (Bio-C, AH Plus Jet) and obturation technique (continuous wave, Tagger's hybrid).

Main Results:

• The Bio-C sealer resulted in significantly lower marginal gaps compared to AH Plus Jet (p=0.021).
• No significant differences in void percentage were observed between the sealers or techniques (p>0.05).
• Both sealers and techniques provided good overall root canal filling quality.

Conclusions:

• Bio-C sealer demonstrates superior performance in minimizing marginal gaps in oval canals.
• The choice of sealer, specifically Bio-C, positively influences the quality of root canal obturation.
• This study underscores the importance of sealer selection for achieving predictable endodontic outcomes.