Influence of a base on coronal microleakage of post-prepared teeth

This study compared the coronal microleakage of post-prepared teeth with and without the placement of a zinc oxide-eugenol cement seal coronal to the gutta-percha. Forty single-rooted extracted teeth were prepared and obturated with sealer and gutta-percha. These teeth were divided into two groups of teeth 20 each. A post space was prepared for each tooth so that 5 to 6 mm of gutta-percha remained in one group and 3 to 4 mm in the other group. To the latter group, 2 to 3 mm of zinc oxide-eugenol cement base was placed directly coronal to the gutta-percha. The sealer was allowed to set for 48 h and the outer root surfaces of the teeth were covered with finger nail varnish and sticky wax, except for the access openings. The teeth were immersed in dye for 1 wk to allow coronal microleakage. The specimens were sectioned and measurements were made on the extent of dye penetration into the root filling. The teeth without a zinc oxide-eugenol base showed significantly greater microleakage than those protected with a zinc oxide-eugenol base.