Long-term evaluation of the sealing ability of two root canal sealers in combination with self-etching bonding agents.

PURPOSE To compare the short- and long-term sealing ability of root canal fillings consisting of AH-26 and laterally compacted gutta-percha in combination with a self-etching dentin bonding system and the Epiphany-Resilon system. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-eight single-rooted human teeth were used in this study. The root canals were prepared using the step-back technique. Sodium hypochlorite 5% was used as the irrigant solution. The teeth were divided into 4 groups. In groups 1, 3, and 4, irrigation with ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) 15% was used to remove the smear layer. In the specimens of all groups, a final irrigation with 5 ml distilled water was performed. In groups 1 and 2, the Nanobond bonding system was used. The specimens in groups 1 to 3 were obturated with AH-26 and laterally compacted gutta-percha. In the last group (4), the Epiphany-Resilon system was used. Microleakage was measured at 7 days, 1 month, and 1 year using a fluid transport model. Two specimens from each group and 4 where only Nanobond had been applied were prepared and examined in a scanning electron microscope. RESULTS The Epiphany-Resilon system and the group obturated with AH-26 sealer and gutta-percha, in combination with the self-etching bonding system after removal of the smear layer with EDTA, demonstrated similar sealing ability. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests showed that he results for these two groups were statistically significanty better than the other groups (p < 0.05). All the groups examined showed increased apical leakage over time, but the increase was statistically significant after one year only in the case of the Epiphany-Resilon system. CONCLUSION The use of a self-etching bonding system improved the sealing ability of AH-26 sealer only after removal of the smear layer. Significantly higher microleakage over time was only observed with the Epiphany-Resilon system.