Adhesive coronal seal of Syntac and Tetric flow following different dentine pretreatment protocols

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to test different sealer removal protocols following root canal filling before adhesive seal of access cavities. Material and methods: Forty single root teeth were selected for the study, prepared to size 60 taper .02, and filled with AH plus and a single gutta-percha cone size 55 taper .02. Excess sealer was removed with: ethanol-moisturised foam pellet (group 1), pellet and additional etch-and-rinse procedure (group 2), pellet and additional preparation with a water-cooled diamond bur (group 3) or by etch-and-rinse following temporary filling for one week (group 4). Syntac and Tetric flow were used as a secondary protective seal. A dye penetration test (centrifugation 3min / 30G; 5% methylene blue) was carried out. Results were analyzed statistically using PASW 18.0 (Kolmogorov-Smirnov-test, Kruskal-Wallis-test, Mann-Whitney-test; p < 0.05). Results: Groups 2, 3 and 4 revealed less leakage than group 1 (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney-tests) and displayed no coloration exceeding the adhesive seal. Teeth with immediate (group 2) or delayed (group 4) adhesive seal showed similar results. Conclusion: Acid etching or bur preparation may be recommended before adhesively sealing the access cavity in single-rooted teeth. There is no need to wait until the sealer has set.