Age-Related Changes in The Penetration of Calcium Silicate-Based Sealer into Dentinal Tubules: A Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Evaluation

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare dentinal penetration of calcium silicatebased sealers according to different ages of a tooth. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 extracted human single-rooted teeth were decoronated to standardize with a root length of 12 mm. A root canal was prepared using Protaper Next rotary nickel-titanium system and obturation was done by single cone technique. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8); based on the Tooth age and types of sealer, used as follows: (1) Tooth age <25 years/AH plus (2) Tooth age <25 years/iRoot SP (3) Tooth age >40 years/AH plus and (4) Tooth age >40 years/iRoot SP. The sealers were labelled with fluorescent dye. Transverse sections at 2, 5 and 8 mm from the apex were analyzed through CLSM. The mean of the maximum sealer penetration depth and circumferential sealer penetration depth were evaluated by the ImageJ software. The data was analyzed with Two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test with a 95% confidence level. Results: The Tooth age <25 years/iRoot SP had a mean of the maximum sealer penetration depth which was significantly higher than the age of the tooth >40 years/iRoot SP at middle and apical third while Tooth age <25 years/AH plus was significantly higher than Tooth age >40 years/AH plus at all root levels (p < 0.05). Tooth age <25 years with iRoot SP or AH plus also had circumferential sealer penetration depth significantly higher than the Tooth age >40 years with iRoot SP or AH plus at all root levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, Tooth age <25 years/iRoot SP showed significantly higher circumferential sealer penetration depth than the Tooth age <25 years/AH plus at apical level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tooth age and types of sealer affected the mean of the maximum sealer penetration depth and circumferential sealer penetration depth, especially in apical part of root.