Influence of a calcium hydroxide-based intracanal dressing on the quality of the root canal filling assessed by capillary flow porometry.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing (CH) on the short- and long-term sealing ability of the root canal filling using capillary flow porometry (CFP). To verify the repeatability of the method, five obturated specimens were submitted to CFP. Measurements were repeated three times and compared with the non-parametric Friedman test. Forty-five instrumented palatal roots were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1: specimens were obturated in one step without placement of any dressing. Group 2: CH was placed and removed after 1week with syringe irrigation before obturation. Group 3: CH was placed and removed after 1week with ultrasonic activation before obturation. CFP measurements were conducted at 1week and 6months after obturation. The inter-group comparisons were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the intra-group comparison over time using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance level was set at 0.05. In the five specimens, no difference could be detected between the consecutive measurements for minimum, mean flow, and maximum pore diameter indicating repeatability of the method. No difference in sealing ability could be detected neither between the 3 groups at 1week and at 6months nor within each group between the 1week and the 6months measurements. Placement of a CH did not affect significantly the short- and long-term sealing ability of the root canal filling. The use of an intermediary CH does not negatively influence the quality of the root canal filling.