Aim: To evaluate the influence of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) on the seal of root canal fillings.
Methodology: A total of 40 mandibular premolars were distributed equally into two groups and the root canals were cleaned and shaped; they were then filled with gutta-percha and AH26 (sealer) using the warm vertical compaction technique with the System B (Analytic Technology, Redmond, WA, USA) device. In one group PUI was applied, after completion of instrumentation and hand-irrigation. In the other group, PUI was not applied. Thereafter, leakage of glucose was evaluated by measuring its concentration once a week for a total period of 56 days using a glucose penetration model. Differences between the groups in terms of glucose concentrations were statistically analysed with the Mann-Whitney test; the level of significance was set at P=0.05.
Results: After the first month the root fillings in teeth where PUI had been used, sealed the root canal significantly better than in teeth where no PUI had been used (P=0.017).
Conclusion: Root fillings sealed the root canal better when PUI had been used.