A comparison of four different microleakage tests for assessment of leakage of root canal fillings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare four different microleakage tests (dye leakage, electrochemical test, bacterial test and fluid filtration) for evaluation of the coronal seal of teeth obturated using Thermafil or lateral condensation techniques.


METHODS
One hundred forty-four extracted single-rooted teeth were selected and prepared. The specimens were divided into 8 experimental groups. In 4 groups the root canals were filled with Thermafil obturators and in the other 4 groups by the lateral condensation technique. Coronal microleakage was assessed after exposing one group of specimens (n = 15 teeth) from each of the obturation techniques to each of the four microleakage tests.


RESULTS
In the fluid filtration test, lateral condensation showed statistically less leakage than the Thermafil technique (P < .05). Electrochemical and dye leakage test results showed no difference between the two obturation techniques (P < .05). However, in the bacterial leakage test, Thermafil showed less leakage than lateral condensation (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is poor correlation between various methods to evaluate hydraulic leakage. The clinical significance of leakage tests in vitro is questionable.
Karagenç
Beril
B
Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gençoglu
Nimet
N
Ersoy
Mustafa
M
Cansever
Galip
G
Külekçi
Güven
G
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008751:Methylene Blue; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue