Evaluation of the radiopacity of different root canal sealers.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to compare the radiopacity of 8 root canal sealers relative to gutta-percha and dentin in standard discs and to evaluate the effect of these sealers on the radiopacity of root canal fillings in simulated canals.


METHODS
Radiographs were taken of 1-mm-thick specimens of 8 root canal sealers (Diaket, Endion, MTA, Endofil, Roeko Seal, Sealite, AH26, AH Plus) and gutta-percha, a 1-mm-thick human tooth slice, and aluminum stepwedge.Simulated canals were used to evaluate the effect of the sealer on radiopacity of the root fillings. After enlargement of the simulated canals with ProTaper instrument, root canals were filled with these 8 sealers alone and with single ProTaper gutta-percha cone. Radiographs of all filled simulated canals were taken with an aluminum stepwedge.


RESULTS
All the sealers demonstrated greater radiopacity than dentin (0.7940 mm Al) (P < .001). AH Plus showed the highest radiopacity in the standard disc group (Group 1) (8.9881 mm Al) (P < .001), and in the sealer group in simulated canals (Group 2) (9.2100 mm Al) (P < .001). In the sealer plus gutta-percha group in simulated canals (Group 3), Sealite plus gutta-percha showed greater radiopacity (8.4460 mm Al) (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Whether the opacity of the sealers alone is more or less than 3 mm Al, their radiopacity is increased when they are used in combination with gutta-percha, because of its higher radiopacity. However, when sealers are used in conjunction with gutta-percha, they can affect the radiopacity of the root canal filling according to their type and thickness.
Gorduysus
Melahat
M
Department of Endodontics, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara, Turkey. mgorduysus@hacettepe.edu.tr
Avcu
Nihal
N
D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003287:Contrast Media; D003738:Dental Cements; D004338:Drug Combinations; C098488:Endion; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D010087:Oxides; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C534916:epoxy resin-based root canal sealer; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C465381:roeko seal; C071465:sealite; C074417:Endo-Fill; D012834:Silver; C028044:epoxy resin AH-26; C014457:bismuth phosphate, copolymers of vinyl acetate, dichlorophen, propionyl-acetophenone, triethanolamine, vinyl chloride, vinylisobutyl ether, zinc oxide drug combination; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D000535:Aluminum; D014025:Titanium; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D001729:Bismuth