Time-Dependent Assessment of pH of Three Different Base Endodontic Sealers

Aim: To measure and compare the pH values of three endodontic sealers of different bases at seven different time intervals.
Methods: Thirty polyethylene tubes were divided into three groups: Group A (n=10): polyethylene tubes filled with MTApex, Group B (n=10): polyethylene tubes filled with AH Plus, and Group C (n=10): polyethylene tubes filled with Sealapex. All sealers were mixed according to manufacturer instructions and placed into the tubes. Samples were then immediately placed in securely sealed glass flasks containing 10 ml of distilled water with neutral pH and stored at 37°C for 30 min. The pH values were measured and recorded using a pH meter immediately after immersion (0 hours) then after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 96 hours, and 168 hours, the water was assessed for pH measurement. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis H test, followed by the Mann–Whitney U test and Friedman test, followed by the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.
Results: Within each time interval, Sealapex sealer had statistically significantly higher pH values than MTApex and AH Plus sealers which was noticed at all evaluation periods. The pH mean values of AH Plus significantly increased at the second evaluation period (6 hours) followed by a significant decrease at 24 hours. (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: All tested materials exhibited alkaline pH values at all evaluation time intervals. Also, Sealapex root canal sealer exhibited the highest alkaline pH values compared to MTApex and AH Plus.