Fluid transport along gutta-percha backfills with and without sealer

The use of heat may influence the sealing ability of sealer. The aim of this study was to compare the fluid transport along the gutta-percha backfill portion when different sealers were used or no sealer at all. Four groups consisting of the roots of maxillary and mandibular canines were instrumented and obturated with vertically compacted warm gutta-percha. Down-pack was carried out using Touch 'n Heat (Analytic Technology, Redmond, Wash, USA) and prefitted pluggers. Back filling was achieved by injecting warm gutta-percha using Obtura II (Obtura Corporation, Fenton, Mo). In the first 3 groups, 1 of 3 sealers was used: RoekoSeal Automix (RSA), Pulp Canal Sealer EWT (EWT), and AH26. In the fourth group no sealer was used. The apical root filling was removed, and fluid transport along the backfill portion was measured using a fluid transport device. A statistically significant difference in fluid transport was found among the 4 groups ( P = .038). The no-sealer group recorded the highest fluid transport. The AH26 group was the only sealer group that displayed significantly less fluid transport than the no-sealer group ( P = .006). The AH26 displayed less fluid transport than the EWT group ( P = .017). The backfills with AH26 as sealer provided a better seal than the backfills of injected warm gutta-percha with EWT as sealer or with no sealer at all.