Original Article
INTRODUCTIONThe main rationale of endodontic therapy is to eliminate microorganisms and their toxic products from the root canal system [1]. One of the major reasons attributed for the clinical failure of endodontic therapy, is apical microleakage [2]. In a root canal filled teeth, this leakage can occur at the various interfaces like endodontic sealer and dentin or sealer and canal filling material (gutta-percha) or through voids within the sealer [3]. Smear layer removal is considered one of the methods for improving the apical seal and for reducing micro leakage before root canal filling [4]. This is due to the fact that, smear layer removal allows better sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules and therein increases the bond strength of resin-based sealers to dentin [5].For effective removal of the smear layer, combined application of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and a chelating agent, such as Ethylenediamine Tetra-Acetic Acid (EDTA), is commonly recommended [6]. Organic acids such as citric acid may also be used for smear layer removal [7]. It has been suggested that the combined use of 10% citric acid and 2.5% NaOCl is a very effective approach for the smear layer removal [7]. MTAD, which is a mixture of a tetracycline isomer, citric acid, and a detergent, is also effective as a final rinse to remove the smear layer with minimal erosive changes to the surface dentin compared with EDTA [8].The most commonly used material for root canal obturation is guttapercha combined with a sealer; however, this standard approach does not provide a completely fluid-tight seal of the root canal system [4]. Resilon (Resilon Research LLC, Madison, Connecticut), a synthetic material was developed as an alternative to replace guttapercha and traditional sealers for the obturation of endodontically treated teeth. The Epiphany obturation system comprises of three substances: the core material, the sealer, and its bonding agent [9]. Later, Epiphany Self-Etch (SE) resin endodontic obturation system (Pentron Clinical Technologies, Wallingford, Connecticut) has been marketed which consists of two components namely: Epiphany SE sealer and Resilon, the core material.
Aim:To evaluate and compare in-vitro, the post obturation apical seal obtained with Resilon /Epiphany SE (Self Etch) sealer following irrigation with 17% Ethylenediamine TetraAcetic Acid (EDTA), 10% citric acid, and MTAD (a mixture of doxycycline, citric acid, and a detergent, Tween 80), as final irrigants in combination with Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) using dye leakage under vacuum method.
Materials and Methods:Fifty five single rooted human maxillary central incisors were subjected to root canal instrumentation. Based on the final irrigation solution, samples were divided into three experimental groups (n=15); (I) 17% EDTA + 1.3% NaOCl, (II) 10% citric acid + 1.3% NaOCl, (III) MTAD + 1.3% NaOCl and two control groups (positive and negative) with 0.9% normal saline as a final irrigant. The samples were obturated with resilon/ epiphany SE sealer acc...
