THE EFFECT OF STORAGE TIME ON THE DEGREE OF DYE LEAKAGE OF ROOT-END FILLING MATERIALS

The quality of the apical seal obtained by root-end filling materials generally has been assessed by the extent of dye penetration. Most inv estigators have allowed the root-end filling materials to set before t hey are tested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if storage t ime had any influence on the amount of dye leakage. Seventy extracted single rooted human anterior teeth were used. After removal of their a natomical crowns, the roots were instrumented, filled with gutta-perch a and Roth's sealer, and subjected to test conditions. The roots were coated with two coats of nail polish. Root ends were resected and clas s I cavities prepared. Sixty class I root-end cavities were filled wit h with either amalgam, super EBA, or IRM (20 each). Ten roots in each group were placed immediately into India ink for 48 h, the other 10 we re stored for 24 h before placement into the ink. Ten roots (five per group) were used as positive (gutta-percha, no sealer) and negative (b one wax) controls. The roots were then demineralized, linear dye leaka ge was measured, and the data were evaluated statistically using ANOVA . Super EBA, and IRM showed significantly less dye leakage than amalga m (P<0.0001). No significant difference existed between Super EBA and IRM. Storage time had no significant influence on the amount of dye le akage observed in this study.