Assessment of apical seal obtained after irrigation of root end cavity with MTAD followed by subsequent retrofilling with MTA and Biodentine: An in vitro study

INTRODUCTION: The present study is designed to assess the apical seal obtained after root end cavity irrigation with MTAD and retrograde filling with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty extracted maxillary central incisors were instrumented and obturated. Apical 3 mm of all the roots were resected and retrograde preparations of 3 mm were made in all the teeth using ultrasonic tips. Thirty root end preparations were irrigated with MTAD for 5 min (Group 1), while 30 were irrigated with saline for 5 min (Group 2). Each main group was subdivided into two subgroups containing 15 samples each. Samples under each subgroup were then filled either with MTA (1A and 2A) or Biodentine (1B and 2B). The amount of microleakage was assessed using a UV spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Statistical analysis suggest a significant difference (P < 0.005) between group 1A and 2A and between the groups 1B and 2B (P < 0.1). There was a significant difference (P < 0.005) between group 1A and 1B and also between group 2A and 2B. CONCLUSION: Irrigation with MTAD significantly improved the apical seal of Biodentine, but it increased the microleakage in MTA-filled root end cavities. Also the apical seal obtained with Biodentine was superior to that obtained with MTA.