Double dye technique and fluid filtration test to evaluate early sealing ability of an endodontic sealer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible correlation between sealer penetration into dentinal tubules and sealing ability both in presence and absence of smear layer.


METHODS
Fourteen maxillary central incisors were treated with 5.25 % NaOCl +10 % EDTA to remove the smear layer (SL-free group) or 5.25 % NaOCl without EDTA (SL group). Root canals were filled using #25 Thermafil Obturators with Topseal sealer labelled with 0.1 wt% rhodamine B. Sealing ability was measured as fluid filtration rate with a fluid-flow meter using water supplemented with 0.3 % calcein fluorescent dye. Specimens were sectioned, observed under confocal microscope to co-localize the presence of sealer (rhodamine B labelling) into dentinal tubules and gaps (calcein labelling) into the root canal. The depth of sealer penetration into dentinal tubules and the percentage of sealer penetration around the root canal were measured at 3, 5 and 8 mm from the apex.


RESULTS
No significant differences between groups were observed in fluid filtration rate nor in depth of calcein penetration. Sealer penetration depth and percentage into dentinal tubules were not significantly different between groups, except at 8-mm level in absence of smear layer.


CONCLUSIONS
Sealer penetration at 3- and 5-mm levels was not influenced by smear layer while it was significantly reduced at 8-mm level. Fluid filtration rate was not correlated either with depth of calcein penetration nor with sealer penetration into dentinal tubules.


CONCLUSIONS
The sealing ability of Topseal sealer is not affected by presence or absence of smear layer.
Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, School of Dentistry, Endodontic Section, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. luigi.generali@unimore.it.
Luigi
L
Generali
Endodontic Clinical Section, School of Dentistry, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.|Master Program in Clinical Endodontic, School of Dentistry, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
C
C
Prati
Endodontic Clinical Section, School of Dentistry, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
C
C
Pirani
Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Human Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
F
F
Cavani
Laboratory of Biomaterials and Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
M R
MR
Gatto
Laboratory of Biomaterials and Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
M G
MG
Gandolfi
D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007180:Incisor; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012235:Rhodamines; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000737:chemistry; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D004853:Epoxy Resins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C115110:Topseal; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C029773:rhodamine B
Confocal laser scanning microscope; Fluid filtration; Sealing ability; Smear layer; Tubule penetration