RESUMO
This in vitro study sought to evaluate the influence of calcium hydroxide on the sealing ability of vertically condensed warm gutta-percha filling. Sixty single-rooted teeth were instrumented with a rotary system and divided randomly into two groups of 26 teeth each; the remaining eight teeth were divided into two groups of four to serve as negative and positive controls. The canals in the first group were filled with calcium hydroxide paste while the canals in the second group received no medication. Seven days after incubation, root canal dressings were removed by irrigation, using 5.25% sodium hypochlorite associated with ultrasonics and 50% citric acid. All specimens were filled using the warm gutta-percha vertical compaction technique, placed in test tubes containing India ink, and centrifuged at 30 G for five minutes; at that point, the dye penetration level was scored. Under the conditions of this study, the calcium hydroxide group showed significantly greater dye penetration than the non-medicated group.
