Endodontic obturation of mesial roots of mandibular molars with Bio-C Sealer and AHPlus

Abstract

Root canal obturations are usually performed with guttapercha cones and an endodontic sealer, filling the space between the dentinal wall and filling material, and the irregularities of the root canal. Bio-C Sealer is a bioceramic and bioactive sealer, whereas AH Plus is a resin endodontic sealer. The hypothesis of the present study was that Bio-C sealer occupies greater volume and surface than AH plus.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of the Bio-C Sealer and AH Plus in the filling of mesial root canals of mandibular molars.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty root canals (20 mesio-buccal and 20 mesio-lingual) of 20 mesial roots of mandibular permanent molars were selected. The mesial root canals were instrumented with Wave One Gold Small files (Dentsply, Maillefer) and Wave One Gold Primary files and irrigated with sodium hypochlorite. After the instrumentation, root canals were irrigated with EDTA, as final irrigation, to induce sealer penetration through dentinal tubules. For the obturation, the samples were divided into two groups according to the used endodontic sealer. Group A: AH plus sealer (Dentsply, Maillefer) and Group B: Bio-C Sealer bioceramic sealer (Angelus). Afterwards, a high-resolution micro-tomography (micro-CT), with a certified flat-panel detector from Varian R (USA), model PaxScan 2020+ was used to obtain 180 tomographic projections of each sample. Then, 3D sample images were reconstructed by using specific dedicated algorithms in MatLab (MathWorks, USA), and specific coding developed in Python, at LIIFAMIRx – National University of Cordoba. Recorded data were statistically analyzed by the Mann Whitney Test.
RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the sealing volume between the AH Plus and the Bio-C Sealer (p>0,05). A higher index of empty spaces was observed in the endodontic filling when AH Plus was used compared to Bio-C Sealer. Empty spaces were found in 15% of root canals; 10% for AH Plus and 5% for Bio-C sealer.
CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the current study, it can be concluded that both sealers, AH Plus and Bio-C Sealer, were adequate to fill mesial- buccal and mesial-lingual root canals of mandibular molars. Although, the volume of empty spaces was lower when Bio-C Sealer bioceramic was used.