Comparative study of the effect on apical sealability with different levels of remaining gutta-percha in teeth prepared to receive posts: An in vitro study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare the apical sealability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Fillapex and Endosequence BC sealer at three different lengths of remaining gutta-percha after postspace preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 freshly extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were decoronated, biomechanically prepared, and randomly divided into four groups; Group A and Group B served as positive and negative control with 10 teeth each. The teeth in Group C and Group D (with 30 teeth each) were obturated with gutta-percha using MTA Fillapex sealer and Endosequence BC sealer, respectively. Teeth in Group C and Group D were further subdivided into three subgroups depending on the length of remaining apical gutta-percha, i.e., 3, 4, and 5 mm after postspace preparation. Apical leakage was assessed using dye penetration method under stereomicroscope. RESULTS: In both the Groups C and D, there was overall no statistically significant difference in leakage; however, Group C showed slightly more leakage than Group D. There was a statistically significant difference in leakage at 3 mm and 5 mm level in both groups. CONCLUSION: Although less microleakage occurred, the bioceramic sealers could not totally eliminate leakage.