Purpose: To determine the influence of iatrogenic gaps, type of cement, and time on microleakage of cast posts using spectrophotometer and glucose filtration measurements.
Materials and methods: Forty-eight single-rooted teeth were divided into eight groups of six teeth each. Teeth were instrumented and obturated, and a cast post was fabricated. In addition to two control groups (positive and negative), a total of six groups were prepared: In four groups, an artificial 2- to 3-mm gap was created between post and residual gutta percha (GP), and two groups were prepared with intimate contact between post and residual GP. Posts were cemented with either zinc phosphate cement or resin cement. Leakage through the post after 1, 8, 14, and 20 days was measured using a glucose penetration model with two different reading methods. Mixed analysis of variance tests were performed to analyze the data.
Results: The presence of a gap between the apical end of the post and the most coronal portion of the GP remaining in the root canal after post space preparation increased microleakage significantly. However, microleakage was significantly less when the gap was refilled with GP compared to no gap. There was no difference in leakage between luting cements used.
Conclusion: It was concluded that none of the cements were able to prevent microleakage. However, the addition of GP to residual GP did increase the sealing ability.