Evaluation of Apical Leakage After Root Canal Obturation with Glass Ionomer, Resin, and Zinc Oxide Eugenol Sealers Combined with Thermafil.

BACKGROUND A hermetic seal at the apical terminus is required for healthy periradicular tissue. Root canal obturation sealers that are used in endodontics are based on zinc oxide eugenol, calcium hydroxide, resins, glass ionomers, silicone, or bioceramics, but no optimal sealer material has been identified to date. Therefore, the aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate apical leakage after crown-down preparation and root canal obturation with Endomethasone N, glass ionomer cement, and EndoRez sealers. MATERIAL AND METHODS For this in vitro study, we tested 92 extracted human teeth, which were divided into 3 groups after a preparation technique and obturation with Endomethasone N sealer, glass ionomer cement, and EndoRez sealer in combination with Thermafil obturator. Apical leakage was evaluated and compared among the tested groups using a dye leakage method through a stereomicroscope. The values were measured from the apex to the coronal extent of dye penetration. For statistical analysis, the t test was used for comparison of the arithmetic averages of tested groups. RESULTS After preparation with rotary files, tested groups obturated with Thermafil obturator in combination with Endomethasone sealer showed higher average dye penetration than tested groups obturated with EndoRez and glass ionomer sealer. CONCLUSIONS Although all experimental groups showed dye leakage, the glass ionomer sealer in combination with Thermafil showed the least leakage, compared with EndoRez and Endomethason N.