A Comparative Study Between Resilon and Gutta-Percha as a Secondary Root Canal Filling Materials: An In Vitro Study

INTRODUCTION: Adequate root canal seal following retreatment is essential for a successful outcome. Resilon/Epiphany (R/E) obturation system has been introduced as a substitute for conventional gutta-percha/sealer method. This in vitro study compared the amount of apical microleakage of R/E with gutta-percha/AH26 (GP/AH26) sealer as secondary root canal filling following retreatment in human teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty human single-rooted lower premolar teeth were selected. After preparing them with ProTaper rotary NiTi instruments, all the canals were obturated using GP/AH26 sealer. After 10 days, all the samples were retreated using the same rotary NiTi instruments. The samples were divided randomly into two experimental groups A and B (n=20) and positive and negative control groups (n=5). In group A, all canals were obturated using GP/AH26 sealer and in group B all canals were obturated using R/E. After one week incubation in 37˚C with 100% humidity, the amount of apical microleakage was evaluated with fluid filtration model. All the apical microleakage data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The mean amounts of apical microleakage were 0.317 ± 0.287 and 0.307 ± 0.281 µL/8min (fluid pressure=30 cm H2O) in experimental group A and B respectively; the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: R/E seems to be a good alternative for retreatment as a secondary root canal filling material. However, Resilon/Epiphany obturation system does not completely avert microleakage.