Effectiveness of lateral and secondary canal filling with different endodontic sealers and obturation techniques

Objective: this study aimed to compare the performance of the new endodontic sealer GuttaFlow 2 (GF2) with two conventional sealers - AH Plus (AHP) and EndoFill (EF) - for filling artificial lateral and secondary canals with the following two obturation techniques: cold lateral condensation (CLC) and Tagger's hybrid technique (THT). Materials and method: sixty single-rooted human teeth were selected and subjected to root canal preparation. Next, specimens were subjected to a diaphanization method. During this process, artificial lateral and secondary canals were produced at 2, 5, 9, and 12 mm from the root apex. The specimens were randomly assigned into six groups (n = 10) according to endodontic sealer (GF2, AHP, or EF) and obturation technique (CLC or THT). The filling of lateral and secondary canals was analyzed by stereomicroscopy. The images were obtained and transferred to the ImageJ software. The mean filling percentages were calculated considering total linear measurements of artificial canals and their filled portions. Data were compared by two-way Anova, followed by Bonferroni Post-Hoc Test, at 5% significance level. Results: all materials showed the ability to penetrate into artificial lateral and secondary canals. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between sealers and obturation techniques. Only GF2 showed a significantly improved flow into lateral canals when compared to secondary canals (P<0.05). Conclusion: GF2 shows proper flow for filling ramifications of the main root canal, but presents no advantage over conventional zinc oxide-eugenol-based or epoxy resin-based filling materials.

In vitro antibacterial activity of a silicone-based endodontic sealer and two conventional sealers

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the modification in the silver component is capable of providing GuttaFlow 2 with antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis compared with epoxy resin-based (AH Plus) and zinc oxide and eugenol-based (Endofill) sealers. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using a reference strain of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212). Freshly mixed sealers were subjected to the agar diffusion test (ADT), while the direct contact test (DCT) was performed after materials setting. ADT results were obtained through measurements, in millimeters, of the inhibition zones promoted by the materials, using a digital caliper. In DCT, values of CFU/mL promoted by the three sealers were compared in three experimental periods (1 min, 1 h, and 24 h). The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). In both ADT and DCT, GuttaFlow 2 presented no effect against E. faecalis, while Endofill and AH Plus showed similar inhibition zones. Endofill was the only material capable of reducing bacterial growth in DCT. In conclusion, modifications in the silver particle of GuttaFlow 2 did not result in a sealer with antibacterial effect against E. faecalis.