An in vitro evaluation of four materials as barriers to coronal microleakage in root-filled teeth

Aim To assess the ability of IRM, Coltosol, Vidrion R and Scotch Bond to seal the pulp chamber following root-canal treatment. Methodology Root-canal treatment was completed on 100 extracted human mandibular molars. The teeth were divided into five groups of 20 teeth each, one group for each barrier material and one control group without barrier material. Two millimetres of the restorative material was placed on the pulp chamber floor. The teeth were thermocycled and evaluated for microleakage using India ink. Specimens were cleared and measurements made to the maximum point of dye penetration. The mean dye penetration for each group was compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results All groups showed dye penetration. Coltosol and IRM sealed significantly better than the other groups, preventing the coronal leakage in 84% and 75% of the specimens, respectively. Scotch Bond exhibited the highest leakage (54% of specimens with dye penetration), which did not differ significantly from the positive control group (62% with dye penetration). Conclusions None of the materials were able to prevent microleakage in all specimens. Vidrion R and Scotch Bond demonstrated the poorest results when used as barriers to coronal microleakage, whilst IRM and Coltosol were significantly better in preventing microleakage.