ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sealing ability of different repair materials and the pathway of bacterial penetration after closure of large pulp chamber floor perforations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Perforations were made in the furcation area of extracted human molars and sealed with either mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), glass ionomer cement or resin composite. The bacterial leakage method was used with Enterococcus faecalis as microbial tracer. The time of leakage (in days) was recorded for each specimen. Statistical analysis of bacterial leakage was performed using the survival analysis and pairwise comparison of groups. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Leaking specimens were prepared and inspected for the presence of bacteria by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: The percentage of leaking samples was significantly higher in resin composite than in the other groups and the negative control group (p<0.05). SEM inspection revealed the presence of bacteria in all leaking specimens. Bacteria were observed along the filling-dentine interface as well as in dentinal tubules at some distance from the filling. CONCLUSIONS: The resin composite material leaked significantly more than the MTA and glass ionomer cements when used to repair large furcation perforations. Bacteria could penetrate into dentine even at a distance from the perforation filling.
