Filling of artificial lateral canals and microleakage and flow of five endodontic sealers.

AIM To evaluate the flow characteristics of AH Plus, Epiphany Root Canal Sealant, Endométhasone, Pulp Canal Sealer (EWT) and Sealapex and their ability to fill artificial lateral canals and prevent microleakage. METHODOLOGY Flow of the sealers was analysed using the American Dental Association (ADA) 57 and the International Standards Organization (ISO) 6,876 specifications. Two lateral canals were produced in the middle and apical third of 64 roots using 0.1 mm cylindrical drills. Lateral condensation of gutta-percha or Resilon and one or other of the sealers were used to fill the root canals. Buccal-lingual digital radiographs were exposed. After the sealer had set, the roots were immersed in Indian ink and cleared in methyl salicylate. The extent of filling and dye penetration were measured on the buccal and lingual root surfaces under 30 x magnification with a stereoscope. RESULTS AH Plus, Epiphany and Pulp Canal Sealer (EWT) complied with ADA 57 and ISO 6,876 specifications. Sealapex complied with the ADA 57 specification but not with ISO 6,876. Endométhasone did not comply with either specification. Filling of lateral canals was similar for the five sealers tested. Dye leakage demonstrated that AH Plus, Epiphany and Sealapex permitted less leakage than Pulp Canal Sealer (EWT) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS All the sealers flowed into the 0.1 mm artificial lateral canals. AH Plus, Epiphany and Sealapex allowed less linear leakage than Pulp Canal Sealer (EWT). The flow of Endométhasone did not comply with either ADA 57 or ISO 6,876 specifications and Sealapex did not comply with ISO 6,876.