Effects of Different Light-curing Units and Obturation Techniques on the Seal of the Resilon/Epiphany System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of a resin- and polymer-based root canal obturation system (Resilon; Resilon Research LLC, Madison, CT/Epiphany; Clinical Technologies, Wallingford, CT) used in conjunction with different light-curing units and obturation techniques. A total of 120 decrowned single-rooted human teeth were used. After preparation of the root canals with 0.06 taper nickel-titanium rotary files to size 30, the roots were randomly assigned into three experimental groups according to the obturation technique used: (1) single cone, (2) cold lateral compaction, and (3) System B + Obtura. In all groups, the specimens were randomly assigned into four subgroups according to the polymerization method that was used to cure Epiphany sealer from the coronal aspect: (1) quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH), (2) light-emitting diode (LED), (3) plasma-arc curing (PAC), and (4) chemical cure (uncured). Leakage was measured by the fluid-filtration method at 1 day and 1 week. Statistical analysis was performed by using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at p < 0.001. Fluid conductance of all groups increased significantly within time (p < 0.001). The tested obturation techniques had no significant effect on the leakage values (p = 0.433). The following statistical ranking was obtained for fluid-filtration values: uncured > PAC > LED > QTH (p < 0.001).