An in-vitro comparison of the microleakage of RealSeal/Resilon and RealSeal Self-Etch/Resilon root canal obturation system

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate and compare microleakage of teeth obturated using either RealSeal/Resilon or RealSeal Self-Etch/Resilon systems. The goal was to determine whether a significant difference in microleakage exists between these two groups. To date, no study has been done comparing the microleakage of root canal systems obturated with using RealSeal/Resilon versus RealSeal SE/Resilon. Sixty-two human, single-rooted, anterior teeth were accessed and instrumented for non-surgical root canal therapy. Teeth were randomly assigned to two experimental groups of 27 teeth each. Group I consisted of teeth obturated with the RealSeal/Resilon system, whereas Group II consisted of teeth obturated with the RealSeal SE/Resilon system. In addition, two control groups containing four teeth each served as positive and negative controls, Group (+) and Group (-), respectively. The teeth were then evaluated for microleakage using a dual-chamber microleakage model. Visual turbidity in the lower chamber denoted microleakage within the experimental groups observed for 33 days. RealSeal SE Group II had a significantly higher proportion of samples than Real Seal Group I. Time to microleakage was also significantly lower in RealSeal SE Group II than in Real Seal Group I. No microleakage was observed in the negative control and microleakage was observed in all four samples in the positive control. To date, this is the first study comparing the microleakage of RealSeal/Resilon and RealSeal SE/Resilon systems. The higher microleakage associated with RealSeal SE is attributed to the higher pH of the self-etch (SE) sealer in comparison with the self-etch primer of RealSeal. The self-etching potential of the sealer system is particularly critical in areas inaccessible to calcium chelating agents such as EDTA in root canal systems. Further research needs to be done to corroborate the microleakage results from this study. The microbial leakage apparatus devised in this study, which used a selective growth medium with streptomycin, has also been validated by the results of the study. The bacterial leakage apparatus has been considered to be clinically relevant and acceptable by the Journal of Endodontics. Thus, the modified dual-chambered microleakage apparatus with a selective growth medium used in this research can be replicated easily in future microleakage studies.