Purpose: To investigate the sealing properties of root fillings with resin-coated gutta-percha cones and a methacrylate-based resin endodontic sealer with and without an accelerator component in root canals subjected to immediate or delayed post space preparation.
Methods: Forty-eight extracted human teeth with single straight root canals were treated endodontically. Specimens were then assigned to four groups of 10 teeth each (n=10). After autoclaving, the following operative procedures were carried out under strict aseptic conditions. In Group 1 the root canals were filled with resin-coated gutta-percha cones and a methacrylate based resin endodontic sealer (EndoREZ). Post space preparations were performed 2 minutes after the sealer had set. In Group 2 the root canals were filled as in Group 1 but with the addition of a chemical accelerator. The post space preparations were also performed 2 minutes after the sealer had set. Groups 3 and 4 were filled as in Groups 1 and 2 respectively, however the post space preparations were done 7 days after the root canal filling was completed. One positive and one negative control tooth per group was added. All specimens were subjected to a coronal bacterial leakage of E. faecalis during a 60-day period using a dual chamber microbial leakage model. Data was analyzed among groups with the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis while significant pairwise differences were analyzed with the log-rank test (P<0.05).
Results: No significant differences (P>0.05) in bacterial leakage were observed between Groups 1 and 2 and between Groups 3 and 4. However, Groups 1 and 2 differed significantly from Groups 3 and 4 (P<0.05).