Aim: To evaluate the ability of two resin-based filling materials to provide immediate and long-term sealing of the root canal.
Methodology: A total of eighty-two human roots were instrumented and filled with AH Plus/gutta-percha or Epiphany/Resilon. Root filled teeth were sealed coronally either with Coltosol or Clearfil SE Bond/Filtek Z250 or were left unsealed. The quality of root canal sealing was assessed by a fluid filtration method performed at immediate and 180-day time intervals. Mean fluid filtration rates were analyzed by three-way repeated measures anova and Tukey post hoc test.
Results: Specimens filled with Epiphany/Resilon exhibited higher leakage than specimens filled with AH Plus/gutta-percha (P < 0.05), regardless of the coronal sealing condition and period of evaluation. No difference was detected between coronal restorative materials (P > 0.05), whilst leakage in teeth without any coronal restoration was significantly higher (P < 0.05). After storage, a significant decrease in leakage (P < 0.05) was observed in all experimental groups.
Conclusions: AH Plus/gutta-percha provided superior root canal sealing at both immediate and 180-day time periods. The presence of a coronal seal reduced leakage significantly. Storage of root filled specimens did not disturb the sealing ability of the tested materials.