Rjg. De Moor et Jg. De Boever, The sealing ability of an epoxy resin root canal sealer used with five gutta-percha obturation techniques, ENDOD DENT, 16(6), 2000, pp. 291-297
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the apical sealing ability
of an epoxy resin root canal sealer (AH-26) when used with different gutta
-percha obturation techniques (i.e. cold lateral condensation, warm vertica
l condensation, hybrid condensation) and with Thermafil and Soft-Cole obtur
ators. Straight single-rooted teeth with mature apices were prepared accord
ing to the crown-down/step-back technique and divided in five groups of 45
teeth and one group of 12 control teeth. After root canal filling 15 teeth
of each group were kept for 1 day, another 15 teeth for 1 week, and another
15 teeth for 4 months at 37 degreesC in vacutainers in 80% relative humidi
ty. The 237 teeth were immersed in india ink for 90 hours, each root was sp
lit and sectioned longitudinally, and the maximum extent of leakage was mea
sured using a stereomicroscope at x6 magnification. It became clear that le
akage occurred whatever technique was combined with AH26 and that leakage i
ncreased with time. The amount of apical leakage and the number of leaking
teeth in the Soft-Core obturator groups was significantly higher than all o
ther 4 gutta-percha obturation techniques combined with AH26. In this respe
ct, the hybrid gutta-percha condensation technique turned out to be superio
r to tho four other condensation techniques.