Micro-CT evaluation of filling of flattened root canals using a new premixed ready-to-use calcium silicate sealer by single-cone technique

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the filling ability of a new premixed ready-to-use calcium silicate-based sealer, in comparison with an epoxy resin-based sealer by the single-cone technique in flattened root canals. Thirty-two flattened root canals of maxillary second premolars with buccal-lingual diameter 4 or more times larger than the mesio-distal diameter at 9 mm from the radiographic apex were selected. Root canals were prepared using Hyflex EDM 25/0.08 and additional preparation with ultrasonic tip Flatsonic and ProDesign Logic 25/0.03. After preparation, the root canals were filled with two root canal sealers (n = 16): Bio-C Sealer or AH Plus using the single-cone technique. Scanning was performed before and after root canal obturation using a Skycan 1176 micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with an isotropic voxel size of 8.74 μm. The percentage of voids was analyzed in the cervical/middle thirds and in the apical third. Data were submitted to the Mann–Whitney test at a significance level of 5%. There was no statistical difference between Bio-C Sealer and AH Plus (p >.05). The percentage of voids in the cervical/middle thirds was 8.94% (1.33–39.95) for Bio-C Sealer and 9.30% (1.19–18.00) for AH Plus (p >.05). In the apical third, this percentage was 11.84% (4.85–27.00) for Bio-C Sealer and 9.21% (1.34–28.78) for AH Plus (p >.05). By using the single-cone technique, neither Bio-C Sealer nor AH Plus provided a voids-free root canal filling. Both sealers had similar filling ability in flattened root canals.