Leakage of AH26 and Ketac-Endo used with injected warm gutta-percha

Condensing warm gutta-percha (GP) can greatly reduce the distance between the GP and the root canal walls (RCW). Different sealers with different film thicknesses may seal such close fits differently. With the use of a fluid transport model, leakage of AH26 and Ketac-Endo used with injected warm GP to fill root canals was measured. The distance between the condensed GP and RCW and the film thickness of the two sealers was determined as well. After condensation, the distance between GP and RCW was mostly less than 25 microns. AH26, with a film thickness of 39 microns, leaked more than Ketac-Endo (p < 0.05) of which the film thickness was 22 microns. It seems that film thickness of sealer is an influencing factor on the sealing ability of a root canal filling when condensation of thermoplasticized GP is performed.