title: The effect of final irrigation on the penetrability of an epoxy resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules: a confocal microscopy study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of QMix, BioPure MTAD, 17 % EDTA, and saline on the penetrability of a resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and to describe the cleaning of root canal walls by SEM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty distobuccal roots from upper molars were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 20) before root canal preparation according to the solution used in the final rinse protocol (FRP): QG (QMix), MG (BioPure MTAD), EG (17 % EDTA), and CG (control group: saline). Ten roots of each group were prepared for SEM, and images (×2000) from the canal walls were acquired. The remaining canals were filled with a single gutta-percha cone and AH Plus with 0.1 % Rhodamine B. The specimens were horizontally sectioned at 4 mm from the apex, and the slices were analyzed in CLSM (×10). Sealer penetration was analyzed with Adobe Photoshop software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QG and EG presented similar amounts of sealer penetration (P > .05). MG and CG presented the lowest penetrability values (P < .05). The best results for smear layer removal of the apical third of the root canal were achieved by the QG and EG groups when compared with MG and CG (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seventeen percent EDTA and QMix promoted sealer penetration superior to that achieved by BioPure MTAD and saline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite studies have not confirmed the relationship between sealing ability of endodontic sealers and their penetration in dentinal tubules, sealer penetration assumes importance, since endodontic sealers, unlike gutta-percha, are able to penetrate in dentinal tubules, isthmus, and accessory canals, filling the root canal system.
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexander Pompermayer
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jardine
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Abreu da
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuela Favarin
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. endo-so@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinícius Reis
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Só
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Denstistry, Sao Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milton Carlos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Poli
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kopper
mesh_terms: D001645:Biguanides / Q000737:chemistry; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000737:chemistry; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000737:chemistry*; D016369:Smear Layer
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D004853:Epoxy Resins; C475043:MTAD (intracanal irrigant); D011108:Polymers; D011136:Polysorbates; C557698:QMix root canal irrigant; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C534916:epoxy resin-based root canal sealer; D019343:Citric Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: Confocal laser scanning microscopy; Endodontics; Final irrigation solution; Root canal irrigant; Scanning electron microscopy; Smear layer