title: The effect of different final irrigant activation techniques on the bond strength of an epoxy resin-based endodontic sealer: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not different final irrigation activation techniques affect the bond strength of an epoxy resin-based endodontic sealer (AH Plus; Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany) to the root canal walls of different root thirds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty single-rooted human mandibular premolars were prepared by using the ProTaper system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) to size F4, and a final irrigation regimen using 3% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA was performed. The specimens were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 20) according to the final irrigation activation technique used as follows: no activation (control), manual dynamic activation (MDA), CanalBrush (Coltene Whaledent, Altststten, Switzerland) activation, and ultrasonic activation. Five specimens from each group were prepared for scanning electron microscopic observation to assess the smear layer removal after the final irrigation procedures. All remaining roots were then obturated with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer. A push-out test was used to measure the bond strength between the root canal dentin and AH Plus sealer. The data obtained from the push-out test were analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bond strength values mostly decreased in the coronoapical direction (P < .001). In the coronal and middle thirds, ultrasonic activiation showed a higher bond strength than other groups (P < .05). In the apical third, MDA displayed the highest bond strength to root dentin (P < .05). The majority of specimens exhibited cohesive failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bond strength of AH Plus sealer to root canal dentin may improve with ultrasonic activation in the coronal and middle thirds and MDA in the apical third.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: topcuogluhs@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hüseyin Sinan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Topçuoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Öznur
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Tuncay
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sezer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirbuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asiye Nur
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Dinçer
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Katip Çelebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D001840:Dental Bonding; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011897:Random Allocation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016369:Smear Layer / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C534916:epoxy resin-based root canal sealer; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: AH Plus sealer; bond strength; irrigation activation