To compare the sealing ability of a new root canal sealer, Totalfill BC Sealer (FKG Dentaire SA, La Chaux–de–Fonds, Switzerland) with AH Plus Sealer (Dentsply, Tulsa, OK).

Methods and Material:

Sixty five permanent single rooted, human maxillary central incisors of similar sizes were selected for the study. Fifty teeth were randomly selected for dye penetration and fifteen teeth for Scanning Electron Microscopy. For dye penetration the teeth were divided into two groups of twenty five teeth each. In Group 1 (n=25), Totalfill BC Sealer and in Group 2 (n=25), AH Plus sealer were used as root canal sealers with Gutta–percha cones to obturate the canals. Roots were covered with nail paint except 2.0 mm of root apically and stored in 0.5% methylene blue dye for one week. The teeth were immersed in 7ml of 70% nitric acid for complete dissolution and subjected to UltraViolet spectrophotometer to quantify the concentration of the dye in each sample. For SEM evaluation, fifteen samples were sectioned longitudinally and marginal adaptation of sealers to root dentin was evaluated.

Statistical analysis used:

The dye leakage of both groups was analyzed using the Independent t–test.

Marginal adaptation of sealers to root dentin was analyzed using unpaired student t test.

Results:

The mean dye leakage in Group 1 (0.36 ± 0.11) was less when compared to Group 2 (0.49 ± 0.12) ( P<0.001 highly significant). The SEM study revealed gap–free regions and gap–containing regions in canals filled with both materials. Gap–containing regions in Group 1 were significantly low compared to Group 2.

Conclusions:

Within the limitations of this study, apical sealing ability and adaptation to the root canal dentin of Totalfill BC sealer is better compared to AH Plus sealer.