Microleakage of four root canal sealer cements as determined by an electrochemical technique

Eighty-eight teeth were used to determine the sealing quality of four root canal sealer cements--Kerr, Diaket, AH-26, and ProcoSol--via the vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha technique. In addition, limited studies were carried out to determine the sealing quality of injected Hydron and thermoplasticized gutta-percha. A comparison was also made between the lateral condensation of gutta-percha and vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha when Kerr sealer was used. Teeth filled with vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha and AH-26 sealer cement showed lower leakage in one experiment but higher leakage in another. Hydron showed the highest leakage of any material. Teeth filled via vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha and Diaket showed less leakage than the other groups. A statistically significant difference was also found between lateral condensation of gutta-percha and vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha using Kerr sealer cement.