Influence of obturation technique on penetration depth and adaptation of a bioceramic root canal sealer

Abstract

Aim: Using a scanning electron microscope and a confocal laser scanning microscope, the effects of three distinct obturation procedures on the depth of penetration and adaptability of a bioceramic root canal sealer (BioRoot RCS) to root dentin are assessed. Materials and Methods: Sixty recently extracted mandibular premolar teeth with straight roots and single canals that were similar in size (±0.2 mm) were divided into three experimental groups (n = 20 each) according to the obturation technique that was employed: injectable thermoplasticized, warm vertical compaction, and lateral compaction. In order to measure the depth of sealer penetration using a confocal laser scanning microscope, half of the root samples (n = 10) in each group were sectioned horizontally by a hard tissue microtome at 3, 6, and 9 mm, respectively, from the root apex after obturation. Using a scanning electron microscope, longitudinal sections of the samples (n = 10) were used to measure how well sealers adapted to radicular dentin.