Aim of the study: was to compare the in vitro effect of three different root canal sealers used with gutta-percha, on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.
Materials and Methods: Forty extracted human single-rooted mandibular premolars were used for the study. Teeth were decoronated to a standard root length of 14 mm. MPro rotary files up to master rotary size 25/6% were used for preparing the root canals. Teeth were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 each) based on the type of root canal sealers used and the obturation was completed using gutta-percha; Group I: AH Plus root canal sealer, Group II: Endoseal MTA sealer, Group III: Bioroot RCS sealer, Group IV: Control-1 (prepared- unfilled) and Group V: Control-2 (unprepared-unfilled). Each specimen was embedded in acrylic mold and subjected to fracture resistance test using a universal testing machine under compressive loading at a rate of 1.0 mm/min until fracture. The force required to fracture each specimen was recorded and the data obtained were statistically analyzed (analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired-t test) with level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The unprepared-unfilled group showed the highest mean fracture resistance followed by AH Plus group, Bioroot RCS group, then the Endoseal MTA group. While the prepared-unfilled group showed the least mean fracture resistance. There was no statistically significant difference between all groups.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that Bioroot RCS and Endoseal MTA are able to reinforce the tooth against fracture as good as AH Plus.