ABSTRACT
The effect of removal of smear layer has already been a subject in many investigations, and has been a matter of controversy. Of course there is no doubt that sealer penetration would be facilitated when smear layer removed. The aim of this study was evaluation of the relationship between sealer penetration and apical microleakage after usage of MTAD. In this invitro study, 135 human single root extracted teeth were selected. The teeth were divided into three groups [40 samples in each] as experimental groups as follow: Group 1: Serum was used for irrigation [with the smear layer]. Group 2: EDTA 17% was used for irrigation [removal of the smear layer]. Group 3: MTAD was used for irrigation [removal of the smear layer] and 15 teeth were considered as the control. The teeth in each group were divided into two subgroups [20 teeth] to be filled either with AH Plus or Dorifill sealer. Sixty teeth were selected for dye penetration with methylene blue and statistically analysed using One-Way and Two-Way ANOVA. In the other 60 teeth, sealer penetration was evaluated using SEM. The data were statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The end relationship between dye penetration and sealer penetration was evaluated by spearman correlation test. There was no significant difference between the three types of irrigants. There was a significant difference between the two sealers. AH plus revealed less dye penetration. Minimum dye penetration was observed in MTAD group with AH Plus and maximum dye penetration was observed in Serum group with Dorifill. Sealer penetration in MTAD and EDTA groups were better than Serum group. AH Plus was better than Dorifill. The correlation between sealer penetration in dentinal tubules and dye penetration wasn't statistically significant. Type of irrigant didn't affect apical microleakage but type of sealer affected microleakage. AH Plus proved to be better. AH Plus showed greater sealer penetration. Greater sealer penetration does not necessarily reduce apical microleakage