Effect of glass-ionomer cement as an intra-canal barrier in post space prepared teeth: An in vitro study

AIM: To evaluate the bacterial microleakage across remaining Gutta-percha in teeth prepared for post space with and without the use of an intracanal glass ionomer barrier. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty freshly extracted intact human mandibular premolars with single canal were instrumented, obturated with Gutta-percha and AH plus sealer and post spaces were created. Teeth were assigned into experimental groups as follows: Group I – 3 mm of Gutta-percha, Group II – 4 mm of Gutta-percha, Group III – 3 mm of Gutta-percha with 1 mm of Vitrebond as barrier, Group IV – 4 mm of Gutta-percha with 1mm of Vitrebond as barrier. The roots were suspended in Rogosa SL broth and 50 μl of lyophilized Lactobacilli Casei was inoculated as the microbial marker. The mean days taken for the broth to turn turbid were tabulated. The values were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. RESULTS: At the end of 64 days, the mean and standard deviation of the number of days for the broth to turn turbid was: Group I – 20.50, (SD - 3.96). Group II – 25.43, (SD - 4.83), Group III – 38.63, (SD - 9.36), and Group IV – 53.50, (SD - 11.15) CONCLUSION: Vitrebond could be used as an intracanal barrier to provide a superior coronal seal in teeth requiring post and core.