In vitro analysis of the cement film thickness of two endodontic sealers in the apical region.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to evaluate in vitro film thickness of two endodontic sealers containing epoxy-resin and zinc-oxide-eugenol, respectively in the apical region of the root canal system.


METHODS
A total of 20 palatine roots of the first maxillary molars were submitted to instrumentation up to a #40 file by the step-back technique and irrigated with 2 ml of NaOCl after each change of file. The roots were divided at random into two groups of 10 elements; one group was sealed with the Sealer 26 cement and the other one with the EndoFill cement using the classical technique. The roots were abraded in the apical region until exposure of the filling and cut crosswise at 3 mm to obtain samples. The samples were analyzed by optic microscopy with 40X magnification. The images obtained were recorded using the Adobe Premiere 5.1 software and submitted to morphometric analysis using an integration grid that permitted the quantification of the area filled with the sealer or gutta-percha, and eventual empty spaces.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis of the data (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.05) revealed no significant differences between the epoxy-resin-based cement Sealer 26 (47.85%) and the zinc- oxide- eugenol-based cement EndoFill (54.16%).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the two sealers tested showed a similar behavior regarding the cement film thickness in the apical region.
Garcia
Lucas da Fonseca Roberti
Lda F
Piracicaba School of Dentistry, State University of Campinas (FOP-UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil. lucasgarcia@fop.unicamp.br
Consani
Simonides
S
Pires-de-Souza
Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri
Fde C
de Almeida
Gabriela Lemos
GL
D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry*
D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; C080620:Sealer 26; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C074417:Endo-Fill; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D001729:Bismuth