Assessment of marginal adaptation of AH plus versus Total fill BC root canal sealers with two different obturation techniques using SEM ( An invitro study )

Aim: This in vitro study assessed and compared two different root canal sealers with two different obturation techniques in terms of marginal adaptation using SEM
Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted single-rooted lower premolar teeth with closed apices were collected. The samples were then equally divided into four main groups ( n = 15 ) according to the root canal sealer and the obturation technique used. Group A: teeth were obturated by cold lateral condensation technique with AH-plus sealer. Group B: teeth were obturated by single cone obturation technique with AH Plus sealer. Group C: teeth were obturated by cold lateral condensation technique with Total fill BC root canal sealer. Group D: teeth were obturated by single cone obturation technique with Total fill BC root canal sealer. Specimens were then transversely sectioned. Marginal adaptation to the dentin of root canals was assessed at coronal, middle & apical thirds. Then, marginal gap scores were assessed. Result: The lowest marginal gap value was observed in Group C while the highest marginal gap value was observed in Group B. Coronal thirds revealed superior marginal adaptation in comparison with middle and apical thirds within the different groups.Conclusions: bio-ceramic sealers are reliable and promising root canal sealers that markedly improve the marginal adaptation. Moreover, obturation techniques also had an impact on the marginal adaptation of the root canal sealer to the dentin walls of the root canal. Cold lateral compaction technique is considered a reliable technique that improves the adaptation to the root canal dentin walls.