In vitro evaluation of bacterial leakage through different perforation repair materials of teeth.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to evaluate micro-leakage through different furcation repair dental materials which are used to repair iatrogenic perforations in teeth. Six commercially available dental materials high copper amalgam, glass ionomer cements (GIC) Fuji II and Fuji IX, intermediate restorative material (IRM), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and fully injectable calcium phosphate cement (Chitra-CPC) were evaluated. METHODS Eighty extracted human molar teeth were prepared chemo-mechanically and allocated to six experimental and two control groups, each comprising of 10 teeth. Microleakage was evaluated using the Enterococcus fecalis bacterial penetration test and confirmed with a confirmatory broth. On a daily basis broth was evaluated for visual turbidity for 45 days and leakage was confirmed using Mac Conkey's medium. RESULTS Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square test has revealed a significant difference among the materials tested, with MTA and Chitra-CPC showing minimal leakage when compared to the other repair materials within this period. CONCLUSIONS MTA and Chitra-CPC showed a similar micro leakage patterns and had a better sealing ability when compared to other materials in this study.