Bacterial microleakage in endodontically treated teeth following two methods of postspace preparation at two-time intervals: An in vitro study

AIMS: The goal of this study was to analyze the bacterial microleakage following two methods (heat vs. rotary) of postspace preparation after two-time intervals (immediate vs. 1 week later). SETTING AND DESIGN: In vitro-comparative study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two single-rooted teeth were decoronated at the cementoenamel junction. Root canals were prepared using rotary files. After root canal obturation, specimens were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups based on the method of postspace preparation (heat or peeso reamer) and time interval (immediate or 1 week later) (n = 18). Group 1: Peeso reamer-immediate, Group 2: Heat-immediate, Group 3: Peeso reamer-1 week later, Group 4: Heat-1 week later. 10 specimens were considered as positive and negative controls (n = 5 each). Custom-made dual-chamber devices were used to appraise the bacterial microleakage for 60 days. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed with Chi-Square and Log-Rank tests and Cox regression. RESULTS: All through the experimental period, there was no significant difference (P = 0.41) between the studied groups. Groups 2 and 4 had the highest microleakage and the lowest survival rate (55.56% ± 11.71%). Group 1 showed the lowest microleakage and the highest survival rate (77.8% ± 9.80%). CONCLUSIONS: The applied techniques for postspace preparation and the time intervals (neither independently nor simultaneously) showed no significant difference in the field of bacterial leakage.