In vitro study of the periapical sealing ability of three root canal sealing cement

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the sealing ability of different root canal cement: resin AH Plus®, calcium hydroxide Sealapex®, and eugenol zinc oxide Pulp Canal Sealer® by measuring the apical penetration of a dye. Methods: One hundred straight single-canal teeth were biomechanically prepared to 0.5 mm of the apical foramen. The teeth were divided into four groups, three experimental groups, with thirty teeth in each group, and a control group, with ten teeth. The following sealants were selected: AH Plus®, Sealapex®, and Pulp Canal Sealer®. The root canal was not sealed in the control group. Lateral condensation was performed on the experimental groups using gutta-percha. The teeth were immersed in Indian ink to determine leakage. Results: In the experimental groups, ink penetration was observed in about 50% of the teeth. The lowest mean penetration was observed in the AH Plus® group (30.9 (±42.9)), and the highest was observed in Pulp Canal Sealer® (94.35 [±79.9]), (P < 0.001). Sealapex® (42.7 [±56.3]) had lower ink penetration than Pulp Canal Sealer® (P < 0.005). No statistically significant difference was observed in dye penetration between AH Plus® and Sealapex® (P = 0.2931). Conclusion: Low dye periapical penetration was observed using AH Plus and the calcium hydroxide cement (Sealapex®), while higher penetration was observed in Pulp Canal Sealer®.