Comparative Evaluation of Obturation Techniques on the Retrievability of NeoSealer Flo Bioceramic Sealer: An Ex Vivo...

The successful retreatment of root canal-treated teeth depends largely on the effective removal of existing filling materials. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of two obturation techniques, single cone (SC) and cold lateral compaction (CLC), on the retrievability of NeoSealer Flo bioceramic sealer during endodontic retreatment. Twenty-four extracted single-rooted mandibular premolars with standardized root canal morphology were mechanically prepared and randomly allocated into two equal groups according to the obturation technique employed (n = 12). Following obturation with NeoSealer Flo, specimens were stored for 14 days under controlled conditions to allow complete setting of the sealer. Retreatment procedures were then performed using rotary retreatment files according to manufacturers' recommendations. The amount of residual filling material remaining after retreatment was assessed in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of each root using stereomicroscopic examination and quantified through ImageJ software analysis. Additionally, the total time required to complete retreatment procedures was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The results demonstrated that canals obturated using the CLC technique had significantly greater residual filling material in the middle and apical thirds compared to the SC technique. No statistically significant difference was observed between groups regarding retreatment time. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the findings suggest that NeoSealer Flo is more readily removed when used with the single cone obturation technique, highlighting the importance of obturation method selection when bioceramic sealers are employed in clinical practice.