Applying liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to assess endodontic sealer microleakage

The objective of this study was to describe a new method for the quantitative analysis of a microleakage of endodontic filling materials. Forty extracted single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups. After root canal shaping, the experimental groups were filled using the lateral condensation technique with the Epiphany system (G1), with gutta-percha + Sealapex (G2), and with gutta-percha + AH Plus (G3). Each root was mounted on a modified leakage testing device, and caffeine solution was used as a tracer (2000 ng mL-1, pH 6.0), applied in the coronal direction towards the tooth apex, creating a hydrostatic pressure of 2.55 kPa. Presence of caffeine in the receiving solution was measured after 10, 30, and 60 days, using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). None of the groups presented microleakage at 10 days. At 30 days, G2 and G3 showed similar infiltration patterns (means: 16.0 and 13.9 ng mL-1, respectively), whereas G1 showed significantly higher values (mean: 105.2 ng mL-1). At 60 days, leakage values were 182.6 ng mL-1for G1, 139.0 ng mL-1 for G2, and 53.5 ng mL-1 for G3. AH Plus showed the best sealing ability and HPLC-MS/MS showed high sensitivity and specificity for tracer quantification.

Análisis crítico de metodologías empleadas en la evaluación de selladores en endodoncia / Critical analysis of methodologies used in the evaluation of sealants in endodontics

La incompleta obturación del sistema de conductos radiculares es uno de los motivos del fracaso en el tratamiento endodóntico. La presencia de espacios en el material obturador puede permitir la filtración en los sentidos apical y coronario. A medida que nuevos materiales son propuestos, se deben realizar investigaciones para la evaluación de todas sus propiedades. Dentro de ellas se puede destacar la capacidad selladora del material obturador en el interior de los conductos radiculares. Varias metodologías han sido preconizadas para esta finalidad. La literatura indica que han sido cuestionables la falta de estandarización y correlación entre estos métodos y los resultados de estas investigaciones. La falta de métodos confiables hace que estos materiales sean empleados en la práctica clínica de forma enpírica, en lo que respecta a esta propiedad. El propósito de este trabajo fue analizar metodologías de evaluación de la capacidad selladora de materiales obturadores endodónticos, buscando estudiar detalladamente sus variables y correlacionar los resultados de estas investigaciones con la práctica clínica

The incomplete filling of the root canal systen is one of the reasons for endodontic treatment failure. The presence of gaps in the seal material can allow leakage into the apical and coronary senses. As new materials are proposed, investigations must be conducted for the evaluation of all its properties. Within then you can highlight the sealing capacity of the filling material inside the root canals. Several methods have been advocated for this purpose. Therefore, the literature points towards the lack of standardization and correlation between these methods and the results of these investigations have been questionable. The lack of reliable methods makes the clinical use of these materials enpirical. The goal of this paper is to discuss methodologies for assessing the sealing ability of endodontic filling materials, seeking to study in detail the variables and correlate the results of these researchs with the clinical practice