Comparative Evaluation of Apical Sealing Ability of Different Obturation Techniques by Confocal Microscopy: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The aim of obturation in the root canal is to completely seal the canal space to eliminate all the portals of entry and exit between root canal and periodontal space. Various techniques have been developed to achieve a hermetic seal. Materials and Methods As many as 150 extracted human maxillary central incisors were taken for the study. Biomechanical preparation was done up to F5 protaper file. According to different obturation techniques, samples were divided into six groups, keeping 30 samples in experimental and 15 samples in control groups. Group I–Lateral Condensation, Group II–Thermafil, Group III–Beefill, Group IV–GuttaFlow, Group V–Positive Control group, Group VI–Negative Control group. After obturation, the samples were immersed in 2% Rhodamine-B dye for 24 hours. Each sample was longitudinally sectioned to examine under confocal laser scanning microscope. Statistical Analysis The results were evaluated with ANOVA and posthoc Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) comparison test. Results The mean values of dye penetration of different groups were Group I (Lateral Condensation) 1.51 ± 0.451, Group II (Thermafil) 0.918 ± 0.399, Group III (Beefill) 1.30 ± 0.559. Group IV (GuttaFlow) 0.655 ± 0.396, Group V (Positive Control group) 1.96 ±0.046, Group VI (Negative Control group) 0 ± 0. The lowest mean value of apical microleakage was found in GuttaFlow amongst all experimental groups. Conclusion It can be concluded that the GuttaFlow obturating material exhibited better apical sealing ability with canal walls.