Comparison of Gutta-Percha and Sealer Volume of S-PRG Prototype Sealer

Objectives: Creating a hermetic seal among root canal dentin wall, sealer, and gutta-percha point is important in endodontic obturation for successful treatment outcome, and minimum or no voids after obturation is desired. Surface reaction-type pre-reacted glass ionomer filler (S-PRG) containing prototype sealer is of interest due to its therapeutic properties. While there are many S-PRG studies reported, studies of S-PRG prototype sealer are scarce. The objective of this study is to compare the root canal filling quality of S-PRG prototype sealer to that of a leading commercially available endodontic epoxy sealer in the United States using in vitro micro computed tomography (micro-CT).
Methods: Six extracted human anterior teeth were cleaned and shaped using rotary file system up to size 50 with 6% taper. Teeth were obturated with a matched gutta-percha point in conjunction with either epoxy sealer (Group A:control) or S-PRG prototype sealer (Group B:experimental) using single cone technique. Treated teeth were placed in 1.5 mL polyethylene tubes and stored in an incubator set to 37C and in 100% humidity to best mimic the conditions of the oral environment. Each sample was scanned from the apex to the CEJ by using a micro-CT device (SkyScan 1272; Bruker-micro-CT, Kontich, Belgium) at an isotropic resolution of 6µm. Volumes of gutta-percha point and of sealer were determined by 3-D image analysis, and statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA.
Results: Average gutta-percha point and sealer volumes are summarized in table below.
Conclusions: There was no statistical significance between the volume of gutta-percha point in S-PRG prototype sealer compared to epoxy sealer (p>0.05). The volume of S-PRG prototype sealer was lower in comparison to epoxy sealer (p<0.05), which suggests increased voids with S-PRG prototype sealer.