ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate, ex vivo, the push-out bond strength of a new filling material (Smartseal) compared with gutta-percha/AH-26. A total of 40 extracted single-rooted human teeth were used. After instrumentation using the ProTaper rotary system, the root canals were filled as follows: Group 1, Smartseal sealer and a 0.06 taper Smartpoint calibrated to apical tip size 30; Group 2, Smartseal sealer and an F3 SmartpointPT; Group 3, AH-26 sealer and a single F3 ProTaper gutta-percha cone and Group 4, AH-26 sealer and gutta-percha using the cold lateral condensation technique. Two successive disk shaped slices were cut from each root sample and the bond strength was measured using the push-out test. Two-way analysis of variance was used for data analysis with the level of significance set at 0.05. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the mean bond strengths of the various groups; thus indicating there was no difference in adhesion to dentine between the Smartseal system and gutta-percha/AH-26 applied using either the single cone or lateral condensation technique.
