A study in vitro of threaded titanium pins used for retrograde obturation of root canals

The microleakage of four retrograde filling materials was compared in vitro. Fifty-three single rooted teeth were instrumentated and root filled with resin chloroform and gutta-percha. The gutta-percha cones were left extruding from the access opening. All teeth were apicected and retrograde fillings placed. The materials used were a non gamma 2 amalgam (Amalcap), a glass ionomer cement (ChemFil II), threaded titanium pins cemented with a glass ionomer cement (ChemFil II) and identical titanium pins cemented with a silicone material (Adheseal). After removal of the gutta-percha with tweezers, a radioactive isotope solution was placed in the teeth. Extraradicular samples were taken at 3, 7, 28, 77 and 104 days. All retrograde fillings showed some microleakage. The group with titanium pins cemented with silicone showed the least leakage: significantly less than the teeth with glass ionomer cement (P < 0.01) and with amalgam (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between other groups.