(PR065) Assessing Mechanical Removability of AH Plus, EndoSequence BC, and NeoSEALER Flo Sealers using Micro CT In Vitro

Warm vertical compaction (WVC) using tricalcium silicate sealers such as EndoSequence BC sealer and NeoSEALER Flo is becoming popular in non-surgical root canal treatment. However, few studies have investigated the removal of tricalcium silicate sealers used with WVC technique when retreatment is needed. The study aimed to compare the removability of an epoxy resin sealer (A:AH Plus, Dentsply-Sirona) and two tricalcium silicate sealers >EndoSequence BC (B:Brasseler) and NeoSEALER Flo (C:NuSmile). Fifty single-rooted extracted human teeth were shaped using ProTaper Ultimate rotary files (Dentsply-Sirona) and irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA, then obturated by WVC with a ProTaper Ultimate gutta-percha using one of three sealers (n=15/group). Five extracted human teeth used as controls for pixel intensity calculation. Micro-computed tomography (CT Lab HX130; Rigaku Americas) scanned each tooth. After three months, gutta-percha and sealer were mechanically removed by ProTaper Universal Retreatment files (D1-D2-D3; Dentsply-Sirona) and XP-3D Shaper (Brasseler), and each tooth was rescanned for comparison. Using 3-D image analysis software (Imaris), the remaining gutta-percha and sealer volumes in the root canal were calculated for the three groups and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni post hoc test. The coronal third percent ± S.D. of remaining gutta-percha and sealer was 14.5% ± 3.5(AH Plus), 24.8%± 4.7(Brasseler), and 12.6% ± 3.1(NeoSEALER). The middle third was 4.8% ± 8.6(AH Plus), 14.8% ± 4.1(Brasseler), and 10.4%±2.7(NeoSEALER). The apical third was 20.5% ±7.9(AH Plus), 12.5% ± 2.6.(Brasseler), and 10.6% ± 5.3(NeoSEALE). The remaining gutta-percha and sealer were highest in the third and lowest in the middle third. There was statistical significance in removability between AH Plus and NeoSEALER Flo sealers at apical third (p < 0.03)