CORONAL LEAKAGE - EFFECTS OF SMEAR LAYER, OBTURATION TECHNIQUE, AND SEALER

Coronal microleakage may be a major factor in the etiology of treatmen t failure. This study examined the effect of obturation technique, sea ler, and the presence of smear layer on coronal microleakage. Two hund red extracted human teeth were assigned to 20 treatment groups. Groups were examined with the smear layer present or smear layer removed (17 % REDTA). Access cavities were exposed to artificial saliva then Pelik an Ink. Teeth were cleared and linear dye penetration measured. When a ll groups with the smear layer removed were compared with all groups w ith the smear layer present, significantly less leakage was seen when the smear layer was removed. Ultrafil displayed significantly more lea kage than all other groups, Vertical compaction of lateral condensatio n and Thermafil obturations significantly reduced leakage. AH-26 displ ayed significantly less leakage than Roth's 811 sealer. These results indicate that removal of the smear layer, the use of AH-26, and vertic al compaction have cumulative effects in reducing coronal leakage.