In vitro evaluation of the sealing ability of combined use of iRoot BP Plus and iRoot SP for root-end filling.

[OBJECTIVES] The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of combined application of iRoot BP Plus Root Repair Material (BP-RRM) and iRoot SP Injectable Root Canal Sealer (SP-RCS) for root-end filling.

[MATERIAL AND METHODS] A total of 120 extracted human teeth were used in this study and were randomly divided into four groups. The BP-RRM+SP-RCS group included teeth retro-filled with combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS (n=45), and the BP-RRM group included teeth retro-filled by BP-RRM alone (n=45). Teeth without root-end preparation and filling were equally divided into positive control (n=15) and negative control (n=15). The apical sealing ability was evaluated by micro-CT analysis, dye penetrant examination, bacterial leakage test, and glucose leakage test.

[RESULTS] Micro-CT analysis showed that the total void fraction of BP-RRM+SP-RCS group was significantly lower than that of BP-RRM group, particularly at the coronal 1/3 segment of the retro-filled roots. Consistently, the maximum linear depth of dye leakage in BP-RRM+SP-RCS group was less than that of BP-RRM group. Bacterial leakage test showed that the microbial leakage in BP-RRM+SP-RCS group was significantly less than that in BP-RRM group. However, no significant difference in glucose leakage between BP-RRM+SP-RCS group and BP-RRM group was observed.

[CONCLUSION] Combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS for root-end filling promotes apical sealing in vitro.

[CLINICAL RELEVANCE] Combined use of BP-RRM and SP-RCS for root-end filling exhibited better apical sealing as compared to BP-RRM alone in vitro, and this may help reducing technical sensitivity and promoting clinical efficiency during endodontic microsurgery.