ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the retention of prefabricated parallel-sided dowels luted with resin cement in extracted teeth that were obturated with gutta percha using a eugenol sealer or a calcium hydroxide sealer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracted maxillary incisor roots (N = 51) were instrumented to simulate conventional root canal therapy and divided into 3 groups (n = 17). One group was not obturated. Second and third groups were obturated with gutta percha using a eugenol-containing or calcium hydroxide-containing sealer. Gutta percha was removed using a heated plugger, and dowel spaces were prepared to a 7 mm depth. Dowel space walls were acid etched and primed, and prefabricated stainless steel dowels were luted using resin cement. After 24 hours, the load required to dislodge each dowel along a path parallel to its long axis was measured and recorded. A one-way analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05) was performed to identify differences in the means among groups. The incidence of failure within the cement or at the dentin-cement interface was also recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found among the control (159.9 +/- 96.3 N), eugenol sealer (153.1 +/- 77.3 N), and calcium hydroxide sealer (192.0 +/- 89.3 N) groups. Nearly all specimens displayed adhesive failure at the dentin-resin cement interface. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional endodontic obturation using a eugenol-containing or a calcium hydroxide-containing endodontic sealer did not affect retention of prefabricated stainless steel dowels luted with resin cement.
