Evaluation of Gaps or Voids Occurring in Roots Filled with Three Different Sealers

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate gaps or voids occurring in roots filled with three different sealers. METHODS Thirty extracted human single-rooted teeth were decoronated, instrumented using NiTi rotary instruments, divided into three groups (n=10 per group) and obturated with one of the following: Epiphany with Resilon, MetaSEAL with gutta-percha or AH Plus with gutta-percha using the match-taper single-cone technique. After storage for one week in 100% humidity at 37 degrees C, the teeth were horizontally sectioned (n=10). Photographs were taken from the coronal, median and apical parts of the roots using a stereomicroscope at 10X magnification, and the images were then transferred to a computer. The mathematical method known as the 'Affine Transformation' was used for the transformation of pixel coordinates to ground coordinates in the Netcad Software program. The mean areas (mum(2)) of the gaps between the sealer and root dentin or gutta percha/resilon and the gaps between the sealer and/or voids inside the sealer mass were measured, scored on a 0-3 scale and statistically analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS The mean total area of gaps or voids for each sealer was 4631.80 mum(2) for the Epiphany-Resilon, 3826.80 mum(2) for the MetaSEAL-gutta-percha and 31334 mum(2) for the AH Plus-gutta-percha. The MetaSEAL-gutta-percha group showed more gap or void-free interfaces. No significant differences were found among the sealers in the scores for the gap areas (P<.05), and the MetaSEAL showed similar interfaces with Epiphany. CONCLUSIONS No significant differences in the mean areas of gaps or voids were found among the tested resin-based sealers.