Comparison of apical sealability of AH plus and GuttaFlow sealers at three different levels of remaining gutta-percha in teeth prepared to receive posts: An In Vitro Study

Background and Objectives: To compare the apical sealing ability of AH Plus and GuttaFlow sealer at three different lengths of remaining gutta-percha after post space preparation. Method: 100 freshly extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were decoronated, biomechanically prepared and were randomly divided into six experimental groups and two control groups. The root canals were obturated using AH Plus sealer in first three groups and GuttaFlow sealer in other three groups. The positive control group was filled with lateral compaction of gutta-percha without sealer. In the negative control group, Canals were left unfilled. After one week, the post spaces were prepared to a depth that left 3, 4 and 5 mm of gutta-percha apically in groups 1, 2, 3 respectively and 4, 5, 6 respectively and the coronal parts of the canals were sealed with Glass Ionomer Cement. The apical leakage was assessed through dye penetration observed under a stereomicroscope and the obtained data was statistically analyzed. Results: AH Plus recorded a slightly higher mean microleakage compared to GuttaFlow, but the difference was not statistically significant. The interaction of the sealer and the length of remaining apical Gutta-percha on microleakage was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Irrespective of the type of sealer used, a 5 mm length of remaining apical gutta-percha filling provides a better seal than 3 mm and 4 mm.