ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to identify a first choice Root-end Filling Material (RFM) as regards the apical sealing ability. METHODS: The method we have used is the so called Metanalysis. It consists of the selection of all experimental studies already existing in literature and of the statistical processing of their results, so that it is possible to achieve a wider statistical sample which could lead to the most conclusive results. In this study we have tried to apply the above mentioned method to scientific articles investigating apical sealing ability through two different experimental methods: the dye penetration method and the fluid filtration method. RESULTS: This study shows that it is not possible to perform all the steps required for the realisation of a metanalytic study. This situation is consequential on the lack of well overlapped studies concerning the experimental protocol. We have tried, however, to outline the characteristics of main Root-end Filling Materials, on the basis of what we had achieved by consulting the single studies found in literature. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to carryout experiments consisting of more similar research protocols both to realise their metanalytic comparison and to respect one of the main foundations in scientific research, that is the effective repetition rather than a mere theoretical one.
