title: Effect of post space preparation on the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate and Gutta-percha: A bacterial leakage study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of post space preparation on the sealing ability of teeth obturated with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Gutta-percha.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty intact human mandibular premolars, after decoronation and biomechanical preparation, were randomly divided into three experimental groups. In Group A (n = 10), the canals were obturated with Gutta-percha using cold lateral compaction technique, followed by immediate post space preparation. In Group B (n = 10), the canals were obturated with 8 mm of MTA and in Group C (n = 10), sectional obturation with 4 mm of MTA was done, followed by delayed post space preparation. All specimens were subjected to bacterial leakage analysis, and the occurrence of turbidity was checked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All specimens in the lateral compaction group leaked. The mean number of days at which leakage was observed in Groups A, B and C were 18.5 days, 93.6 days and 95.5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTA can be considered as an alternative to Gutta-percha as an apical third restorative material for teeth indicated for post and core, as it demonstrates better-sealing ability compared with Gutta-percha. Further, the removal of set MTA for post space preparation does not disrupt the integrity of the remaining apical MTA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pacific Dental College, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Metgud
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pacific Dental College, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Harsh H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Shri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Hemalatha T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hiremath
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pacific Dental College, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Deepali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pacific Dental College, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Kartik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: Bacterial micro leakage; mineral trioxide aggregate; post and core; post space preparation; sealing ability