Coronal leakage in teeth root-filled with gutta-percha and two different sealers after long-term storage

This in vitro study investigated the effect of long-term storage on the coronal leakage of a microbial marker in teeth root-filled with lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha and one of two sealers. Sixty single-rooted teeth were prepared chemomechanically to a size 40 master apical file. The teeth were divided into two groups of 20 teeth each and obturated with gutta-percha using either Apexit or Tubliseal EWT sealer. The teeth were stored for 6 months in artificial saliva and tested for leakage using a marker consisting of Anaerobic streptococci and Prevotella intermedia. The teeth were checked for bacterial leakage daily for 90 days. All positive control teeth leaked within 48 hours, while the negative control teeth remained uncontaminated throughout the test period. Leakage in the experimental teeth started at times varying from 10 to 71 days; 30% and 75% of the specimens of the Apexit and Tubliseal EWT groups respectively showed leakage at 90 days. The Tubliseal EWT group showed significantly more leakage (p < 0.05) than the Apexit group.