A comparative study of physicochemical properties of AH Plus and Epiphany root canal sealants

AIM: To evaluate setting time, solubility and disintegration, flow, film thickness, and dimensional change following setting in a dual-cured resin root canal sealer Epiphany compared with an epoxy-resin-based sealer AH Plus. METHODOLOGY: The experiments were performed according to ANSI/ADA Specification 57 which tests the physicochemical properties of endodontic sealing materials. Five samples of each material were tested for each of the properties. In addition, deionized distilled water from the solubility test of Epiphany was submitted for analysis of the cations Fe, Ni, Ca, Mg, Zn, Na, and K in an atomic absorption spectrometer. Three samples were analysed. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences (P>0.05) in flow (AH Plus: 38.57 mm; Epiphany: 35.74 mm) and film thickness (AH Plus: 10.6 microm; Epiphany: 20.1 microm). The solubility (AH Plus: 0.21%; Epiphany: 3.41%) and dimensional alterations following setting (AH Plus: expansion of 1.3%; Epiphany: expansion of 8.1%) were statistically different (P<0.05). The setting times of both sealants were in accordance with ANSI/ADA requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Setting time, flow, and film thickness tests for both cements conformed to ANSI/ADA standards. Dimensional alteration test for both cements were greater than values considered acceptable by ANSI/ADA. Epiphany values regarding solubility were also greater than values considered acceptable by ANSI/ADA.