(PR79) Comparing Apical Porosity of Three Obturation Techniques with a Tricalcium Silicate-Based Sealer Using μCT

Apical sealing prevents leakage after completion of root canal therapy. To assess how obturation techniques and sealer affect the quality of sealing and clinical outcomes, this study compared the porosity of a tricalcium silicate-based sealer applied via three techniques at the apex of three samples using x-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). Three single-rooted extracted human teeth were shaped using ProTaper NEXT (Dentsply-Sirona) size X5 rotary files (#50/variable taper) with 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA irrigation. NeoSEALER Flo Sealer (NuSmile) was inserted in each canal with FlexFlo tips and gutta-percha (GP) obturation was completed using three obturation techniques: 1) single cone; 2) warm vertical; and 3) cold lateral. After obturation each tooth was scanned using μCT (CT Lab HX; Rigaku Americas). Cross-sectional segmentation analysis (Dragonfly Software, Object Research Systems) was performed 2 mm from the apex to observe the areas of porosity and combined GP/sealer. Each coronal slice (4.77, 4.74, and 5.00 μm thickness) yielded 421, 423, and 400 images for the three samples. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA with the Bonferroni post hoc test. The percentage of porosity (porosity area/total area x100) was calculated. The porosity percentages ± standard deviation in the apical region for the single cone, warm vertical, and cold lateral were: 5.57±0.37, 4.61±<, and 11.93± Cold lateral porosity percentage was significantly higher (p < 0.05) when compared to that of the other two techniques. In this study, μCT analysis at apical 0 mm -2 mm showed lower porosity with single cone and warm vertical obturation techniques with tricalcium silicate-based sealer.