Formaldehyde release from root-canal sealers: influence of method

Aim To examine formaldehyde release from three different root-canal sealers : one phenol resin, one epoxy resin and one paraformaldehyde containing zin c oxide eugenol cement. Methodology Formaldehyde was measured from freshly mixed material and from specimens allowed to set for 2 days or 2 weeks. Different mixing ratios and sample sizes were tested. Analysis was performed by reacting formaldehyde with acetylacetone and ammonia to form diacetyldihydrolutidine, which was r evealed by spectrophotometry. Results Analysis revealed that mixing ratio, time after mixing and surface: weight ratios of specimens had different influences on the formaldehyde rel ease from different materials. Conclusions From the results of this study it is difficult to define a stan dardized in-vitro test that can be applied universally fur the definitive d etermination of formaldehyde release from endodontic scalers. Prediction of in-vivo formaldehyde release from endodontic sealers is difficult.