title: Influence of root canal sealer on the radiographic appearance of filling voids in maxillary single-rooted teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the influence of three epoxy resin-based sealers with distinct radiopacities on the observers' ability to detect root canal filling voids during radiographic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The root canals of 48 extracted maxillary canines were prepared and divided into three groups. Each group was laterally condensed with one sealer (AH Plus®, Acroseal® or a non-radiopaque sealer), and a longitudinal void was simulated in half of the specimens from each group (n=8). Buccolingual radiographs were obtained and randomly interpreted for voids by a radiologist and an endodontist in a blinded fashion. Teeth were cut and inspected under a microscope to confirm the position of void. Differences in sensitivity and specificity between groups and examiners were compared using the Fisher's Exact and McNemar tests, respectively (α=0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly lower sensitivity levels (p<0.05) were observed in the coronal portion of fillings performed with both radiopaque sealers. Specificity values for Acroseal® were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the coronal and apical portions of fillings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The type of root canal sealer can affect the observers' ability to detect root canal filling voids during radiographic analysis of upper single-rooted teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. augusto.bodanezi@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodanezi
authors.forename: Etiene Andrade
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Munhoz
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia Álvares
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Capelozza
authors.forename: Norberti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernardineli
authors.forename: Ivaldo Gomes de
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Roberto Brandão
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Clovis Monteiro
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bramante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008437:Maxilla; D015588:Observer Variation; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000592:standards; D011897:Random Allocation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; C534916:epoxy resin-based root canal sealer