Tubular Penetration Depth of AH26 and MTA Fillapex Root Canal Sealers in Human Single-Rooted Teeth: An Ex Vivo Study

 The purpose of this study was to compare dentinal tubular penetration of two root canal sealers namely AH26 and MTA Fillapex in single-rooted teeth by scanning electron
microscopy.

 Thirty-five mature human single-rooted teeth were selected. Cleaning and shaping was performed. The teeth were randomly divided into 2 groups. AH26 was delivered into the canals in group 1, and MTA Fillapex was delivered into the root canals in group 2 by lateral compaction technique. The roots were sectioned at 3 mm and 5 mm from the apex. The sections were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, and the deepest penetration depth of sealers was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed by t-test using SPSS version 19.0.

  The deepest tubular penetration in group 1 at 3 mm from the apex was 808 µm while it was 717 µm in group 2 at 3 mm from the apex. The difference between the two groups was not significant (P=0.4). At 5 mm from the apex, the deepest tubular infiltration in group 1 was 995 µm while it was 915 µm in group 2. The difference between the 2 groups was not significant (P=0.4).

  Both sealers can be predictively used in different clinical situations when indicated .