Depth of Penetration of Four Resin Sealers into Radicular Dentinal Tubules: A Confocal Microscopic Study

Background: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the depth of penetration of 4 different endodontic resin sealers into the radicular dentinal tubules with the aid of confocal microscopy. Methods: Eighty single-rooted teeth were instrumented and divided into 4 groups composed of 20 teeth each. The samples were obturated with AH Plus, RealSeal, EndoRez, and RoekoSeal resin sealers, respectively. The core material in all the groups was Resilon. The teeth were sectioned at the coronal, middle, and apical thirds and viewed under confocal microscope to determine the depth of penetration of the sealer into the dentinal tubules. Results: The results showed that the maximum penetration was exhibited by RealSeal resin sealer, followed by AH Plus, RoekoSeal, and EndoRez. The coronal third showed the maximum penetration, followed by middle third and least at the apical third. Conclusion: Under the parameter of this study, RealSeal resin sealer exhibited the maximum penetration. (J Endod 2012;38:1412-1416)