EFFICACY OF A MODIFIED SINGLE CONE OBTURATION TECHNIQUE IN PREVENTING BACTERIAL LEAKAGE

Objectives: The ultimate goal of endodontic obturation is to achieve an impermeable seal along the root canal system. Although a large number of filling materials and obturation techniques have been proposed, none of them are able to block bacterial passage completely. A single cone technique (Easyfill) that uses MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) or CEM (Calcium Enriched Material) as a sealer would be much faster and easier as it does not require the procedure of drying. This study was designed to assess the sealing properties of Easyfill technique in comparison with lateral condensation, using a split chamber bacterial leakage model.

Methods: 95 Instrumented single canal teeth were divided into 4 experimental groups (lateral condensation and AH₂₆, CEM, MTA plus single cone) and 3 control groups (negative control, positive control and single gutta percha cone). A split chamber leakage method using E.Faecalis as a microbial marker was used for evaluation of bacterial microleakage. Bacterial penetration was monitored over a 42-day period. In the case of observing turbidity in lower chamber, microleakage was recorded and control cultures on specific media were performed in order to ensure purity.

Results: At the end of the study period the percent of microleakage was 30% for lateral condensation, 20% for AH₂₆+single cone, 84.2% for CEM+single cone and 60% for MTA+single cone. The only statistically significant difference was observed between the CEM+single cone and lateral condensation groups. (P<0.001)

Conclusion: Considering the specific conditions of this study, the highest resistance to bacterial leakage was achieved by the modified single cone technique using AH₂₆, which was comparable to that of lateral condensation.

Keywords: Modified single cone, Easyfill, Bacterial leakage, Enterococcus Faecalis.