A Study Of Three Different Obturating Techniques For Apical Microleakage In Human Teeth

Background: Apical microleakage happens to be the main reason for failure of endodontic treatment. Achieving an almost hermetic seal is a challenge that every endodontist has to accept. Materials have been improved according to the requirements of the dental practitioners. With the proponents of each material advocating their material to be superior to others. However apical microleakage still appears to be the major cause of root canal treatment failure. Similarly numerous apical leakage assessment methods have been developed and later improved upon in order to evaluate and compare different obturating materials. Regardless of the newer materials and methods to evaluate them we have yet to have develop a material that has ideal obturating properties and a method that can assess apical leakage in a quick , simple , inexpensive and accurate manner.Objectives: The aim of the study was to quantitatively assess the sealing ability of lateral condensation, vertical condensation and Thermafil techniques using glucose Penetration model.Methods: 71 straight anterior human maxillary teeth were divided randomly into seven groups after preparing the root canals using the crown-down technique. Group A (14 teeth) was compacted with vertical compaction and AH Plus. Group B (8 teeth) was compacted with vertical compaction only. Group C (13 teeth) was compacted with lateral compaction and AH Plus. Group D (8 teeth) was compacted with lateral compaction only. Group E (11 teeth) was compacted with Thermafil and AH Plus. Group F (7 teeth) was compacted with Thermafil only. Group G (10 teeth) was assigned to negative control group. The specimen of the negative control group was completely coated with aryldite, including its root canal orifice and apical foramen. The roots of the experimental groups were covered with aryldite, except for the root canal orifices, and apical apices. After compaction 1 mm of the root tips were immersed in 1 ml distilled water containing 0.2% sodium azide(NaN₃). The coronal end of the decoronated tooth was connected to a plastic tube that contained 18% glucose solution. Leakage along the root filling was measured by the concentration of glucose in apical reservoir at 7, 14, 21 and 28 day intervals respectively after treatment.Results: Using repeated measure ANOVA, the leakage was significantly different among test groups A,C and C,E at 7,14,21 and 28 days interval respectively (P < 0. 001). But there was no difference of leakage between groups A and E (P > 0. 05). Data from Groups C and D varied significantly, however, groups A,B and E,F showed no difference at all. The glucose concentrations at 21,28 days were higher than that at 7,14 days in all of the six groups.Conclusions: The sealing ability of lateral compaction technique is better than both of vertical and Thermafil technique. The sealing ability of vertical and Thermafil technique is the same.