Assessment of a New Root Canal Sealer's Apical Sealing Ability

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the apical sealing ability of a newly introduced root canal sealer: iRoot SP Root Canal Sealer.

Study Design: Sixty-eight extracted human anterior single-root teeth were used. The coronal part of each tooth was removed and the root canals were prepared with ProTaper files. The specimens were divided into 3 groups of 20 teeth each. Group A specimens were filled with iRoot SP using the continuous wave condensation technique; Group B specimens were obturated with iRoot SP using a single cone technique; Group C specimens were filled with AH plus by means of the continuous wave condensation technique. Evaluation of the apical leakage was performed with a fluid filtration method at 24 hours and 1, 4, and 8 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to qualitatively assess what mechanisms might be responsible for leakage of the different groups.

Results: There was no significant difference in fluid leakage among the groups, as well as no time effect on leakage (P > .05). SEM revealed both gap-free regions and gap-containing regions in canals filled with both materials.

Conclusion: iRoot SP was equivalent to AH Plus sealer in apical sealing ability.