In vitro study of the sealing ability of four retrograde filling materials

Abstract This in vitro study utilized India ink dye after clearing to evaluate the extent of apical microleakage following reverse filling procedures. Forty single-rooted human teeth divided into 4 groups were chemomechanically prepared and obturated, using the lateral condensation technique with gutta-percha and Grossman sealer. Following obturation, an apicoectomy was performed and retrograde cavities were filled with 4 different materials: Group A: amalgam and varnish; Group B: EBA cement; Group C: Ketac-cem®; Group D: hot-burnished gutta-percha. All teeth were immersed in India ink, decalcified, cleaned, examined through a stereomicroscope, and the depth of linear dye penetration was measured. Statistical analysis showed significantly less dye penetration with EBA cement and amalgam with varnish than with Ketac-cem and hot-burnished gutta-percha.