Comparison of the sealing ability of two root-end filling materials (MTA and CEM cement) following retropreparation with ultrasonic or Er,Cr:YSGG laser

Considering advantages and disadvantages of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) cement has been developed recently. The purpose of this study was to compare the apical microleakage of the root-end cavities prepared by ultrasonic or Er,Cr:YSGG laser and filled with MTA or CEM cement. Eighty single-rooted, extracted human teeth were instrumented and obturated. Root-end resection was made by removing 3 mm of the apex. The teeth were randomly divided into two experimental (n=30) and two positive and negative control (n=10) groups. After that, the retrograde cavities were prepared using ultrasonic or Er,Cr: YSGG Laser. According to the root-end filling materials (MTA or CEM cement), each group was then divided into two subgroups. Finally, specimens were cleared for assessing the amount of apical dye (Indian ink) penetration. The data were analyzed using Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn tests. Laser/CEM cement group showed significantly the lowest mean apical dye penetration. There were no statistically significant differences between Laser/MTA, ultrasonic/MTA and ultrasonic/CEM cement groups. Based on the findings of this study, CEM cement demonstrated lower rate of apical leakage compared with MTA, when the root-end cavities prepared with Er,Cr:YSGG Laser. The sealing ability of MTA was not different following root-end preparation by ultrasonic or Er,Cr:YSGG Laser.