ARTIFICIAL FLOOR TECHNIQUE USED FOR THE REPAIR OF FURCATION PERFORATIONS - A MICROLEAKAGE STUDY

Access openings and furcation perforations were prepared in 45 human e xtracted teeth randomly divided into three equal groups, Furcation per forations were obtruded using only a resin-modified, glass-ionomer mat erial (Vitrebond) in the first group, Calcium sulfate and hydroxylapat ite were used as artificial floors under the Vitrebond in the second a nd third groups, respectively, Pulp chambers and access openings were filled with composite resin, After immersion in 2% methylene blue solu tion for 2 wk, the teeth were sectioned and dye penetration was measur ed under a stereomicroscope using a NIH Image 1.47 Macintosh program. Results indicated that calcium sulfate and hydroxylapatite artificial floors significantly improved the sealing ability of Vitrebond and pro vided successful barriers against its overextension.