A micro-computed tomographic evaluation of root canal filling with a single gutta-percha cone and calcium silicate sealer

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the void of root canal filling over time when a calcium silicate sealer was used in the single gutta-percha cone technique. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four J-shaped simulated root canals and twenty-four palatal root canals from extracted human maxillary molars were instrumented with ProFile Ni-Ti rotary instruments up to size 35/0.06 or size 40/0.06, respectively. Half of the canals were filled with Endoseal MTA and the other half were with AH Plus Jet using the single gutta-percha cone technique. Immediately after and 4 weeks after the root canal filling, the samples were scanned using micro-computed tomography at a resolution of 12.8 μm. The scanned images were reconstructed using the NRecon software and the void percentages were calculated using the CTan software, and statistically analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance, paired t-test and Tukey post hoc test. Results: After 4 weeks, there were no significant changes in the void percentages at all levels in both material groups (p > 0.05), except at the apical level of the AH Plus Jet group (p < 0.05) in the simulated root canal showing more void percentage compared to other groups. Immediately after filling the extracted human root canals, the Endoseal MTA group showed significantly less void percentage compared to the AH Plus Jet group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Under the limitations of this study, the Endoseal MTA does not seem to reduce the voids over time.

Main and Accessory Canal Filling Quality of a Premixed Calcium Silicate Endodontic Sealer According to Different Obturation Techniques

“…We showed that the technique was more beneficial to obturate the root canal with less void formation compared to warm vertical compaction. However, in contrast to our study, a considerable number of recent studies have reported that the filling quality of the SC technique was not inferior but instead superior to other techniques, such as warm vertical compaction [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. While reviewing the papers, we recognized that all the studies were performed only using microcomputed tomography (μCT) but did not observe the sectioned tooth specimens using a microscope.…”

“…However, in terms of void formation, a couple of studies, including ours, reported that the SC technique might be inferior to other techniques, such as the core-carrier method or vertical compaction [ 7 , 19 ]. Nevertheless, a significant number of studies showed that the SC technique did not generate more voids compared to other methods, and thus there are still controversies [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Therefore, in the present study, we reproduced the experiment using a newly launched zirconium-oxide-containing premixed calcium silicate sealer (Endoseal TCS) with similar teeth and protocol.…”

Physico-Chemical Properties of Calcium-Silicate vs. Resin Based Sealers—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Laboratory-Based Studies

“…Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was carried out to assess the evidence. The risk of bias assessment was adapted from the previous studies [ 28 , 29 , 30 ] ( Table 2 ). The evaluation was based on the description of the following parameters for the quality assessment of study: sample size calculation, samples with similar dimensions, randomisation process, standardisation of instrumentation and obturation procedures, endodontic treatment performed by a single operator, blinding of the observer and statistical analyses carried out.…”

Calcium Silicate Cements vs. Epoxy Resin Based Cements: Narrative Review

“…Kim et al (2020) assessed the quality of root canal filling over time of both extracted human teeth and artificial canals using a calcium silicate cement (Endoseal MTA) with the single cone technique in comparison with canals filled with AH Plus cement. Micro-CT (micro-computed tomography) scans performed immediately after filling the canal did not show significant differences in the percentage of vacuum at all levels between the Endoseal MTA and AH Plus groups in the simulated root canals; after four weeks there were no statistically significant differences in any third of the canals, with the exception of the apical third of the group tested with AH plus which showed a greater percentage of voids; although immediately after filling the canals, Endoseal MTA showed a lower percentage of voids compared to AH plus, over time there seems to be no significant differences between the two [32].…”