the effect of two post-space preparation techniques on the seal of resilon and gutta-percha obturation materials

introduction: the aim of this study was to compare the effect of post space preparation with gates glidden drills or hand files on the sealing ability of gutta-percha or resilon obturation materials. materials and methods: one-hundred and four single-rooted human teeth were instrumented and divided into four experimental groups (n=21 each) and two groups of positive and negative control (n=10). forty-two roots of experimental groups were obturated with gutta-percha and dorifill sealer; and 42 roots with resilon/epiphany self-etch using lateral compaction technique. each gutta-percha or resilon group was divided into two subgroups (n=21) and post-space prepared with either gates glidden drills or hand files and chloroform. after post space preparation, 5 mm of apical gutta-percha or resilon was left intact. the whole system was sterilized with gamma-rays. saliva leakage was tested using a split-chamber model. specimens were monitored every 24 hours for 30 days. the data were analyzed using log-rank test and cox regression analysis. results: there were no significant differences between the sealing ability of gutta-percha and resilon. furthermore, no significant difference was found between two different methods of post space preparation (p>0.05). conclusion: under the limitations of this ex vivo study, there were no significant differences between the sealing ability of resilon and gutta-percha after post space preparation using gates glidden drills or hand files with the aid of chloroform.