The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of soft chelating irrigant on the sealing ability of root fillings by using a glucose leakage test.

A total of 45 single-rooted teeth were selected for the study. The teeth were decoronated leaving a total length of 13mm. The root canals prepared using K3 NiTi rotary instruments to an apical dimension of size 45(0.06 taper). The specimens were then randomly divided into 3 experimental groups of 13 roots each and 2 control groups of 3 roots each. Specimen in each group were prepared with different irrigation protocols : group 1, 2.5% NaOCl; group 2, 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA; group 3, 2.5% NaOCl and 15% HEBP. The root canals were filled with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer using lateral condensation. After 7 days in 37℃, 100% humidity, the coronal-to-apical microleakage was evaluated quantitatively using a glucose leakage model. The leaked glucose concentration was measured with spectrophotometry at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days.

There was a tendency of increase in leakage in all experimental groups during experimental period. HEBP-treated dentin showed no significant difference with EDTA-treated dentin during experimental period. From the 21th day onward, HEBP-treated dentin showed significantly lower leakage than smear-covered dentin. HEBP-treated dentin displayed a similar sealing pattern to EDTA-treated dentin and a better sealing ability than smear-covered dentin. Consequently, a soft chelator(HEBP) could be considered as the possible alternative to EDTA.

This study examined the influence of the apical sizes on the sealing ability of a root canal filling.

Thirty-six single rooted teeth with a single canal were divided into 3 groups (n = 12) and instrumented with either the Profile® or LightSpeed® system to achieve three different apical sizes (master apical file [MAF] of #25, #40, or #60). The teeth were filled with gutta percha using a modified continuous wave technique. The level of microleakage was determined by immersing ten teeth from each group into India ink for 1 week followed by clearing with nitric acid, ethyl-alcohol, and methylsalicylate. The microleakage was measured using vernier calipers. The data was analyzed statistically using Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA and a Student-Newman-Keuls Method. Two teeth from each group were sectioned horizontally at 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm from the apex in order to observe a cross section.

The apical size was significantly (p < .05) influenced the level of microleakage. In the Student-Newman-Deuls Method, MAF sizes of #25 and #40; and MAF sizes of #25 and #60, respectively showed a statistically significant difference. There was no significant difference between #40 and #60. In most cross sections, oval-shaped canals were observed, and the irregularity of the internal surface increased with decreasing apical size. There was also an increase in the area of recess, which is the area where the canal space is not filled with either gutta-percha or sealer.

When the root canals are filled using a modified continuous wave technique, canal filling with more consistent and predictable outcome may be expected as the apical preparation size is increased.

The purpose of this study was to compare the apical leakage of the root canal filled with the System B and the EndoTwinn (the combined application of heat and ultrasonic vibration).

Sixty extracted premolars with straight root were cleaned and shaped to size 35. Group SB was obturated using System B and Group ET was filled with EndoTwinn. A size 35 of 0.06 tapered gutta-percha and Adseal were used and the plugger which could be introduced to 4 mm short of working length was selected in the obturation procedure. As the positive control, Group PC was not filled. In Group SB, ET and PC, all external surfaces of each tooth were coated with nail varnish leaving only 1 mm area around the apical foramen. In the negative control of Group NSB and Group NET, all of external tooth surface including apical foramen was coated with the nail varnish. The specimens were immersed in methylene blue dye solution for 2 days. Then the specimens were sectioned at each 1 mm from apex to 5 mm level. The final score of one specimen was given by summing up of the points at all levels.

The dye leakage of Group ET was significantly less than that observed in Group SB (p < 0.05). And the frequency of gutta-percha pulling out from root canal when the plugger was removed was more often with the System B than with EndoTwinn but there was no significant difference.

The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of root canal obturation with or without the use of dentin adhesive system. Forty extracted human teeth with one canal were selected and decoronated. The teeth were divided into two Groups. The obturation procedure of Group 1 was the same as that of Group 2 with the exception of dentin adhesive system. Group 2 were obturated with dentin adhesive system, AH-26, and gutta-percha.

After obturation, the teeth were immersed in methylene blue solution for 84 hours. The teeth were sectioned horizontally at 1.5 mm (Level 1), 2.0 mm (Level 2), 2.5 mm (Level 3) from the root apex using a low speed microtome. Distance of dye-penetrated surface and total dentinal surface were measured using SigmaScan Pro 5.0, and the ratio of dye-penetrated distance to the total dentinal distance was analyzed statistically by Mann-Whitney U-test.

In both groups, the mean leakage ratio was decreased cervically.