Evaluation of the sealing ability of gutta-percha and thermoplastic synthetic polymer-based systems along the root canals through the glucose penetration model

Objective To compare the sealing ability of gutta-percha and thermoplastic synthetic polymer-based systems along the root canals using a recently introduced glucose penetration model. Study design Premolars (n = 156) instrumented to an apical size of .06/40 were divided into 12 experimental and 2 control groups. The root canals were filled with either gutta-percha (groups 1-6) or Resilon (groups 7-12) core materials combined with AH Plus (groups 1, 4, 7, 0), Ketac Endo (groups 1, 5, 8, 11), or Epiphany (groups 2, 6, 9, 12), using cold lateral compaction (groups 1-3, 7-9) or System B with Obtura II (groups 4-6, 10-12). The leaked glucose concentration was measured spectrophotometrically at 1, 8, 15, 22, and 30 days. Percentage leaking of each group was also calculated. Data were recorded as mmol/L and statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (P = .05). Results Throughout the experimental period Resilon/Ketac-Endo/cold lateral compaction (group 8) showed the highest mean cumulative glucose penetration (mmol/L) (17.27 ± 10.32), whereas Resilon/AH Plus/cold lateral compaction (group 7) had the least (3.36 ± 4.65) (P < .05). At the 30th day, the least leaking percentage was observed in gutta-percha, Epiphany/cold lateral compaction (group 3). Glucose penetration was affected by the obturation technique in some groups. Ketac-Endo either with gutta-percha (group 2) or Resilon (group 8) indicated significantly less glucose penetration in warm technique, whereas gutta-percha/Epiphany (group 3) had significantly less glucose penetration in cold technique (P < .05). Conclusions All material/technique combinations allowed glucose penetration. Gutta-percha/AH Plus combinations allowed similar patterns of glucose penetration to Resilon/Epiphany combinations.