Effect of moisture on the apical seal of laterally condensed gutta-percha.

Eighty-five single-rooted human teeth were cleansed and shaped for obturation with gutta-percha and Proco-Sol root canal cement. Two of the three experimental groups had their canals contaminated with either 0.05 ml of NaOCl or saliva immediately prior to obturation. The remaining group of 25 teeth had dry canals prior to obturation. All teeth were obturated by the lateral condensation technique, covered with two coats of nail polish, immersed in India ink, and subjected to a vacuum for 15 min. The teeth were then cleared to allow visual assessment of the dye penetration through the apical seal. Positive and negative controls verified the experimental method. The recorded measurements were statistically analyzed and no significant differences were found among the groups.