Root-end filling materials: apical microleakage and marginal adaptation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the root-end sealing ability through dye leakage evaluation and the marginal adaptation through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of some root-end filling materials. Thirty human uniradicular teeth were used. Teeth were divided into three groups: (1) retrofilled with MTA-Angelus, (2) with SuperEBA, and (3) with Vitremer. The root surfaces were isolated with nail polish and teeth were immersed in silver nitrate. Roots were sectioned transversally at each millimeter, in three sections and evaluated at a stereomicroscope to observe dye penetration. Using SEM the distance between the tested root-end filling materials and the surrounding dentin was measured at four points. The statistical analysis showed significant differences among the three materials in relation to the sealing ability (p < 0.05). Concerning marginal adaptation, MTA-Angelus presented the best results (p < 0.01). Absence of correlation between the two methodologies was clearly observed.