Apical seal of root canals with gutta-percha points with calcium hydroxide

• Published in: Brazilian dental journal Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 26
• Main Authors: Holland, Roberto, Murata, Sueli Satomi, Barbosa, Henrian Gonzaga, Garlipp, Osvaldo, de Souza, Valdir, Dezan Junior, Eloi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil 2004
• Subjects: Calcium Hydroxide - chemistry; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Coloring Agents; Dental Bonding; Dental Leakage - classification; Gutta-Percha - chemistry; Humans; Materials Testing; Methylene Blue; Root Canal Filling Materials - chemistry; Root Canal Obturation - methods; Root Canal Preparation - methods; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Tooth Apex - ultrastructure; Vacuum; Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement - chemistry
• ISSN: 1806-4760

The objective of this research was to determine if gutta-percha points with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] improve the apical seal after root canal filling and if the master point does it alone. Human single recently extracted teeth were biomechanically prepared and the root canals filled by the lateral condensation technique with ZOE and gutta-percha points, with or without calcium hydroxide. The teeth were placed into a 2% methylene blue solution in a vacuum environment for 24 h after which they were processed for stereomicroscope evaluation. Better results were observed with the teeth filled with gutta-percha points with calcium hydroxide (p=0.01). We conclude that these new points make a better apical seal and that these results can also be obtained with the calcium hydroxide master point associated with regular ones (p=0.05).