Clinical utility index for root canal sealers.

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Evaluation

Background:

• Effective endodontic treatment relies on root canal sealers for a hermetic seal and to prevent reinfection.
• Standardized evaluation systems for root canal sealers require improvement to guide clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a Clinical Utility Index (CUI) for systematic evaluation and ranking of root canal sealers.
• The CUI assesses key properties: sealing ability, antimicrobial efficacy, flow rate, and solubility.

Main Methods:

• A structured development process involving expert identification and panel discussions.
• Scoring criteria were established to evaluate five different root canal sealers (A-E).
• Mean values for core properties were calculated to determine the total CUI for each sealer.

Main Results:

• Sealer B achieved the highest CUI (95%), indicating superior performance across all evaluated properties.
• Sealer C (80%) and Sealer A (60%) followed, while Sealers D (30%) and E (35%) showed the lowest performance.
• Deficiencies in multiple properties were identified for the lower-ranked sealers.

Conclusions:

• The CUI provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating root canal sealers, aiding practitioner decision-making.
• Sealer B's high CUI highlights the importance of balancing sealing ability, antimicrobial effect, flow rate, and solubility.
• The CUI offers a robust method for selecting sealers based on empirical data, with potential for future refinement.