Sealing ability of two commonly used root canal sealers with and without smear layer

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of current research was to find out the sealing ability of two commonly used sealers in the presence and absence of smear layer at different time interval. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total of 180 single rooted vital teeth were used. Transversal section was made with the help of digital slow speed cutting saw to divide the root and crown part. After removal of crown roots part was instrumented and prepared. The 180 teeth were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=90) 1 and 2. In group 1 the smear layer was kept intact but it was removed from group 2 with EDTA (17%). Group 1 was then divided into two sub-groups, A1, A2. Group 2 was again separated into two sub-groups, B1 and B2. Each sub-group contained of 45 samples. In sub-groups A1 and B1, AH Plus sealer, in sub-groups A2 and B2, Ketac-endo sealer and cold lateral condensation technique was used for obturation with gutta percha. All samples were kept in an incubator at 37°C for 24 hours, with help of nail polish/varnish all samples root surfaces was painted only excluding apical area after words each sub group were further divided in to three groups of 15 to represent immersion periods of 7,15 and 30 days. All samples were then kept in 5 % methylene blue dye solution at 37o c for their respective time periods. After specific time period, the roots of every group were cut longitudinally and evaluate under a stereomicroscopes to evaluate apical micro leakage in millimeter. Data was subjected to Repeated measure ANOVA with post-hoc analysis using Tukey and bonferroni tests. RESULTS: Overall analysis indicated significant reduction in sealing ability canals in with and without smear layer over different time periods (p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Current study has concluded that AH plus sealer provides significantly better seal in the absence of smear layer than in the presence of smear layer in addition it gave better seal than Ketac-Endo sealer in the absence and presence of smear layer.