Evaluation of fracture resistance of roots obturated with resilon and thermoplasticized gutta-percha: An in vitro study

AIM: To investigate and compare the fracture resistance of resilon and realseal filled root canals with those that were obturated with thermoplasticized gutta-percha and AH-plus endodontic sealer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty extracted human mandibular single-rooted premolars stored in 10% formalin were used in this study. They were prepared by using a crown-down technique, debrided and irrigated with NaOCl, EDTA, and normal saline and divided into four groups. Group I = Negative control, canals prepared but no obturation was done; Group II = Positive control obturated with dual cure composite resin; Group III = Obturated with thermoplasticized GP and AH-plus; Group IV = Obturated with resilon and realseal. All root specimens were stored for two weeks in 100% humidity to allow for complete setting of the sealer. Each specimen was mounted in acrylic in a polyvinyl ring and tested for fracture resistance with a universal testing machine. The loading fixture of the machine was mounted with its spherical tip aligned with the center of the access opening of each root. A vertical loading force was applied until it fractured the root. The force values were subjected to statistical analysis: Kruskall-Wallis H-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Group comparison revealed that Group II (positive control) had significantly higher values of resistance to fracture as compared to all the other groups. While Group IV (resilon with realseal) had significantly higher values of resistance to fracture as compared to Group I (negative control). CONCLUSION: On the basis of our findings, it can be concluded that filling the root canals with resilon and realseal increased the in vitro resistance to fracture of single-canal extracted teeth. resilon and realseal demonstrated high fracture-resistance values and could be an alternative to the conventional gutta-percha.