Comparison of the apical seal obtained by a dual-cure resin based cement or an epoxy resin sealer with or without the use of an acidic primer

This study compared the apical leakage of roots obturated with gutta-percha using either a dual-cure resin based cement (Panavia F) or an epoxy-resin sealer (Thermaseal plus) with or without the application of an acidic primer (ED Primer). Eighty-six single rooted canine teeth were decoronated, cleaned, and shaped by using hand and rotary instruments, randomly divided into four groups, and obturated as follows: group A (n = 20): ED Primer applied followed by thermoplastized obturation with gutta-percha and Thermaseal Plus sealer; group B (n = 20): thermoplastized obturation with gutta-percha and Thermaseal Plus; group C (n = 20): ED primer applied followed by thermoplastized obturation with guttapercha and Panavia F; group D (n = 20): thermoplastized obturation with gutta-percha and Panavia F. Both a negative control (n = 3; entire root coated with wax) and a positive control (n = 3; obturated with only a fitted master cone) were included in the study. Groups A, B, C, D, and the controls were immersed in molten sticky wax, leaving the apical 2-mm exposed, and quickly chilled. All teeth were immersed in 1% methylene blue dye solution for 10 days, rinsed, and sectioned longitudinally. Apical dye penetration was measured stereomicroscopically at 10-fold magnification. The analysis of variance and Duncan Multiple Range were used for result analysis. The specimens obturated with gutta-percha and an epoxy-resin sealer (with or without an acidic primer) demonstrated significantly less linear dye penetration than specimens obturated with gutta-percha and the dual-cure, resin-based cement (with or without an acidic primer).