AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the remaining filling material percentage after retrievability of bio-ceramic sealers (Well-Root St and endo-sequence BC sealer) from root canals obturated using either single cone or cold lateral condensation techniques.
Methods: Forty-two extracted sound human single-rooted lower premolars were selected and decoronated. Roots were divided into three equal groups (n=14 per group) according to the sealer used. Group A: well-Root St (Vericom, Gangwon-do, Korea) and Group B: endo-sequence BC sealer (Brasseler, Savannah, GA, USA) and Group C: epoxy resin-based sealer AH Plus (Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany). Each group was subdivided into two subgroups according to the obturation technique. Subgroup (1): single cone technique and subgroup (2): cold lateral compaction. Following root canal instrumentation and obturation of all samples, filling material was retrieved. Retrievability was evaluated in terms of the percentage of remaining obturation material using stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test.
Results: All sealers (Well-Root ST, Endo-sequence BC, and AH-Plus) left more remaining filling material apically, followed by the middle portion and coronal portion, with statistically significant differences between them. Single-coned bio-ceramic sealers (Endo-sequence BC sealer and Well Root ST) exhibited higher residues than resin sealer (AH-Plus) significantly upon the apical portion.
Conclusions: Removing filling material from teeth filled using the single cone obturation technique with bio-ceramic sealers can pose challenges and might need additional methods to assist in the removal process.