Leakage in vitro with IRM, high copper amalgam, and EBA cement as retrofilling materials.

An in vitro dye leakage study was performed to compare the sealing ability of high copper amalgam with Copalite, IRM, and EBA cement when used as retrofilling materials. Fifty-one extracted anterior teeth were instrumented and then obturated with gutta-percha. The apical 3 mm of the roots were resected and 2-mm deep apical preparations were made. The roots were then randomly placed into three groups and retrofilled with one of the experimental materials. After 72 h in India ink, the teeth were cleared and evaluated for leakage with a stereomicroscope. No leakage was evident in the three teeth used as negative controls and complete leakage was noted in the three positive control teeth. Statistical analysis showed that IRM and EBA cement had significantly less leakage than amalgam with Copalite. The difference between the EBA cement and IRM was not significant.