title: Evaluation of the dentinal wall adaptation ability of MTA Fillapex using stereo electron microscope.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An ideal root canal obturation requires a complete dentinal wall adaptation of sealer and Gutta-percha combinations without any gap formations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the dentinal wall adaptation ability of MTA Fillapex root canal sealer using stereo electron microscope (SEM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four, single-rooted, human maxillary incisor teeth were used. All canals were prepared with a rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) instrument to a size F3 file. Teeth divided into two equal groups and one of the experimental groups was filled with AH Plus, and the other group was filled with MTA Fillapex using Gutta-percha single cone as a core material. The roots were prepared for SEM evaluation, and serial scanning electron photomicrographs were taken at ×50, ×100, ×500, and ×1000 magnifications. The gaps between the root canal sealer and canal walls were detected and measured in coronal, middle, and apical thirds. For each section, the highest value among the detected gap formations was recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mann-Whitney U-test, Freidman, and Wilcoxon tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between two sealers in terms of gap formation (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTA Fillapex has a similar dentinal wall adaptation ability as AH Plus does.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demiriz
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Murat
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baran Can
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sağlam
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevinç Aktemur
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Türker
keywords: Adaptation; MTA Fillapex; dentinal wall; gap formation; stereo electron microscope