title: Sealing ability of three root-end filling materials prepared using an erbium: Yttrium aluminium garnet laser and endosonic tip evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To compare the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and Chitra-calcium phosphate cement (CPC) when used as root-end filling, evaluated under confocal laser scanning microscope using Rhodamine B dye. (2) To evaluate effect of ultrasonic retroprep tip and an erbium:yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser on the integrity of three different root-end filling materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  The root canals of 80 extracted teeth were instrumented and obturated with gutta-percha. The apical 3 mm of each tooth was resected and 3 mm root-end preparation was made using ultrasonic tip (n = 30) and Er:YAG laser (n = 30). MTA, Biodentine, and Chitra-CPC were used to restore 10 teeth each. The samples were coated with varnish and after drying, they were immersed in Rhodamine B dye for 24 h. The teeth were then rinsed, sectioned longitudinally, and observed under confocal laser scanning microscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a post-hoc Tukey's test at P < 0.05 (R software version 3.1.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of microleakage showed maximum peak value of 0.45 mm for Biodentine, 0.85 mm for MTA, and 1.05 mm for Chitra-CPC. The amount of dye penetration was found to be lesser in root ends prepared using Er:YAG laser when compared with ultrasonics, the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Root-end cavities prepared with Er:YAG laser and restored with Biodentine showed superior sealing ability compared to those prepared with ultrasonics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: A Salin
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Nanjappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ponnappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Nanjamma
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ponappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sabari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girish
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Coorg Institute of Dental Science, Virajpet, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nitin
keywords: Biodentine; Chitra-CPC; Er:YAG laser; MTA; confocal laser scanning microscope