Comparison of Marginal Adaptation Between Cold Ceramic Sealer and AH26 Sealer Using Scanning Electron Microscopy: An In Vitro Study

Background: Cold ceramic (CC) is a bioceramic material used for root-end filling. A new bioceramic sealer derived from CC has recently been developed. This in vitro study was conducted to evaluate and compare the marginal adaptation of an experimental bioceramic-based sealer (CC sealer: CCS) with that of an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH26 sealer) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Methods: Twenty extracted human maxillary central incisors were collected, disinfected with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, and stored in 0.9% saline. The teeth were decoronated at the cementoenamel junction to obtain 13 mm roots. After cleaning and shaping the canals using the crown-down technique, the samples were randomly divided into two groups (n=10 each). In Group 1, canals were obturated with gutta-percha and AH26 sealer. In Group 2, canals were obturated with gutta-percha and the CCS. After 24 hours of incubation, a 2-mm-thick apical cross-section was prepared from each specimen, and marginal adaptation was assessed using SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20 and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: The mean marginal gap was 15.6±3.46 μm and 10.47±2.35 μm in the AH26 and CCS groups, respectively. The mean gap of the CCS group was significantly lower in the apical side and coronal side of the specimens compared to the AH26 sealer group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, CCS demonstrated significantly better marginal adaptation compared to AH26 under SEM evaluation. It is recommended that further clinical studies validate its performance in clinical settings.