A preliminary study of the percentage of sealer penetration in roots obturated with the Thermafil and RealSeal-1 obturation techniques in mesial root canals of mandibular molars

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of sealer penetration in root canals filled with the Thermafil or RealSeal-1 systems analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).Study designTwenty canals in 10 mesial roots of mandibular molars were cleaned and shaped using ProTaper and ProFile instruments to a size 35 and .04 taper at the apex and filled using RealSeal-1 or Thermafil systems in the mesial canal of each root. Horizontal sections were made at the 3 and 5 mm levels from the apex, and the percentage of sealer penetration in the root canal walls was analyzed using CLSM.ResultsThin layers of sealer (2-30 μm) and sealer tags into dentinal tubules were found in the root canal walls in a high percentage using both techniques at both evaluated levels, with no statistical differences between the techniques (Student t test: P > .05).ConclusionThe percentage of sealer penetration in the root canal walls was similar using both thermoplastic carriers based systems.