Purpose: our study evaluated the effect of Gallic acid irrigation as a final rinse after sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) irrigation on the filling Quality of an expoxy resin – based sealers.
Methods and Materials: Twenty single- rooted human teeth were prepared with the protaper system. The specimens were then divided into the following groups: 5.25%NaOCL irrigation (NaOCL group) and 5.25%NaOCL + 10% gallic acid (gallic acid group). The root canals were filled using single cone technique with protaper F3 cones and Diapro – seal sealer, labeled with rhodamine B dye to allow analysis under a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). All Samples were sectioned at 3, 5 and 7 mm form the apex and prepared for CLSM analysis. The Penetration segments of the canal were calculated at the apical, middle and coronal thirds. The Mann – Whitney statistical test was used at 5 % significans level.
Results: higher percentage of gaps and voids were observed at all root thirds of the NaOCL group when compared to the gallic acid group (P Conclusion: our in vitro results showed that the use of gallic acid as an antioxidant agent after NaOCL irrigation promoted a better interfacial adaptation and penetration of epoxy resin – based root canal sealers.