Effect of Root Dentin Moisture on the Apical Sealing Ability of Root Canal Sealers: In vitro Study

Background: The goal of root canal filling is complete sealing of the canal system. The moisture level is crucial for effective sealing and adhesion. Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the effect of root canal dentin moisture conditions on the apical sealing of two root canal sealers. Methods: 54 single-rooted mandibular premolars were instrumented and randomly divided into two groups (n=27) according to the types of sealers used: group MTA Fillapex and group One-Fil bioceramic sealer. Then, both groups were randomly divided into 3 subgroups (n=9) according to different intracanal moisture conditions before obturation: dry (the canals were dried with paper points until the last one came out dry), moist (only one paper point was used), and wet (canals left wet without drying). After completing the obturation using sealers and gutta-percha, the apical leakage was evaluated by the dye extraction method using a spectrophotometer. Results: The lowest leakage value was 0.006 for subgroup One-Fil, wet. While the highest leakage was 0.058 for subgroup MTA and dry. The statistical analyses revealed that One-Fil in wet conditions had significantly lower leakage than in moist and dry conditions. MTA in moist conditions had significantly lower leakage than in wet and dry conditions. There was a significantly lower value for One-Fil, wet, compared with MTA, wet, and MTA, moist, compared with One-Fil, moist. Conclusions: One-Fil sealer showed the lowest microleakage in wet conditions. While MTA Fillapex showed the lowest microleakage in moist conditions.