title: Ability of new obturation materials to improve the seal of the root canal system: a review.
abstract: New obturation biomaterials have been introduced over the past decade to improve the seal of the root canal system. However, it is not clear whether they have really produced a three-dimensional impervious seal that is important for reducing diseases associated with root canal treatment. A review of the literature was performed to identify models that have been employed for evaluating the seal of the root canal system. In vitro and in vivo models are not totally adept at quantifying the seal of root canals obturated with classic materials. Thus, one has to resort to clinical outcomes to examine whether there are real benefits associated with the use of recently introduced materials for obturating root canals. However, there is no simple answer because endodontic treatment outcomes are influenced by a host of other predictors that are more likely to take precedence over the influence of obturation materials. From the perspective of clinical performance, classic root filling materials have stood the test of time. Because many of the recently introduced materials are so new, there is not enough evidence yet to support their ability to improve clinical performance. This emphasizes the need to translate anecdotal information into clinically relevant research data on new biomaterials.
authors: Department of Stomatology, Fuzhou Dongfang Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
authors: Guo-Hua
authors: GH
authors: Li
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Li-Na
authors: LN
authors: Niu
authors: Department of Stomatology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: North Shore Endodontics, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Olsen
authors: UNIGRANRIO, School of Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: De-Deus
authors: Department of Dental and Biomedical Material Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors: Ashraf A
authors: AA
authors: Eid
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ji-Hua
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Oral Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Pashley
authors: Department of Endodontics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors: Franklin R
authors: FR
authors: Tay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials
keywords: Leakage models; Root canal; Root filling materials; Sealability; Treatment outcome