title: Filling Effectiveness and Dentinal Penetration of Endodontic Sealers: A Stereo and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the filling effectiveness and dentinal penetration of the sealers AH Plus, Pulp Canal Sealer EWT, Sealapex and MTA Fillapex applied according to the vertical condensation technique using thermoplastic gutta-percha. Forty single-rooted teeth were selected. After chemical-mechanical preparation and root-canal filling, sections of the root (2, 4 and 6 mm from the apex) were obtained and analyzed by stereo microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. With regard to the assessment of void spaces in the filling material at 2 mm from the apex, the sealers showed similar results, but at 4 and 6 mm from the apex, MTA Fillapex had inferior performance compared to AH Plus (at 4 mm), Pulp Canal Sealer EWT (at 4 and 6 mm) and Sealapex (at 6 mm) (p<0.05). With regard to the penetration into dentinal tubules at 2 mm from the apex, the sealers also showed similar results, but at 4 and 6 mm Pulp Canal Sealer EWT had an inferior performance compared to MTA Fillapex and AH Plus, respectively (p<0.05). All four sealers were found to be similar regarding adaptation of the filling material to the root canal walls, except the MTA Fillapex, which showed failures at 4 and 6 mm from the root apex. With regard to the ability to penetrate into the dentinal tubules, the sealers were found to be equivalent, except for the Pulp Canal Sealer EWT as it had poorer results at 4 and 6 mm compared to MTA Fillapex and AH Plus, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, PUCMG - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério Vieira
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, PUCMG - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frank Ferreira
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, PUCMG - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Martinho Campolina Rebello
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.affiliation: Bauru Dental School, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Antônio Húngaro
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Bauru Dental School, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Cavalini
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cavenago
authors.affiliation: Bauru Dental School, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivaldo Gomes de
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, PUCMG - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials