Evaluation of the Apical Sealing Ability of Resin and Silicon Based Sealers by Dye Extraction Method: An In Vitro Study

Introduction: Thorough, chemo-mechanical preparation of the root canal is required to completely eliminate microorganisms from the dentinal tubules. Faulty obturation in the apical area is the pathway from which bacteria and their toxins pass on to the periapical area and this leakage can be studied by sealability studies. Aim: To evaluate the apical sealing ability of three sealers i.e., AH Plus, Roekoseal and Adseal using passive dye penetration test and a dye extraction test with Methylene blue dye to evaluate the apical leakage. Materials and Methods: The present study was an experimental in-vitro study, carried out at MGM Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India over a period of 10 months (from August 2013 to May 2014). Eighty freshly extracted human permanent maxillary central incisor teeth were obtained. The crowns of the teeth were sectioned at/below cemento-enamel junction and divided into five groups: Groups I, II and III were obturated with gutta-percha and three different sealers, and groups IV and V were the two control groups. Passive dye penetration test was performed to evaluate penetration of the dye by means of capillarity followed by dye extraction test. At the end of dye extraction procedure, the supernatant solution obtained was analysed using an Ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Significance was set at 5%. Statistical analysis was performed by using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software version 20 (Armonk, New York, United States). The normality of data in each group was tested using Shapiro-Wilk test. The mean absorbance values of the five groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Further to compare the level of absorbance of dye among various groups, Tukey’s post-hoc test was applied. Results: The mean values of dye absorbance of all groups were as follows, AH Plus (0.02638), Roekoseal (0.06713), Adseal (0.03575), positive control group (1.36250) and negative control group (0.01894). One-way ANOVA showed p