Apical sealing ability of Resilon/Epiphany versus gutta-percha/AH Plus: immediate and 16-months leakage.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the long-term apical sealing ability of gutta-percha/AH Plus and Resilon/Epiphany.


METHODS
The root canals of 90 single-rooted human mandibular premolars with single narrow root canals were prepared with ProFile 0.4 taper instruments to apical size 40. After each instrument, the canals were irrigated with 1% sodium hypochlorite. Subsequently, the teeth were randomly divided into four groups containing 20 teeth each. Additionally, 10 prepared premolars served as positive and 10 counterparts with intact crowns as negative controls. The root canals were filled with gutta-percha/AH Plus or Resilon/Epiphany using lateral or vertical compaction. Specimens were allowed to set for 7 days at 37 degrees C and 100% humidity. Subsequently, the root fillings were removed down to the apical 4 mm. Fluid movement was then assessed using a fluid transportation model and re-evaluated after 16 months of water storage. Leakage within and between groups was compared using nonparametric tests.


RESULTS
Negative controls revealed no fluid movement and positive controls displayed gross fluid movement at both times of observation. At the immediate measurement, there were no significant differences between the experimental groups (Kruskal-Wallis, P > 0.05). Gutta-percha/AH Plus fillings retained their seal after 16-months storage (Wilcoxon, P > 0.05), whilst the Resilon/Epiphany groups lost their sealing capacity (Wilcoxon, P < 0.001). In these groups, 29 of the 40 specimens exhibited gross leakage similar to positive controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Initially, Resilon/Epiphany root fillings prevented fluid movement to the same degree as gutta-percha/AH Plus counterparts, but showed more fluid movement when tested at 16 months.
Paqué
F
F
Division of Endodontology, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology, and Cariology, University of Zurich Centre for Dental Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland. frank.paque@zzmk.unizh.ch
Sirtes
G
G
D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials