Under the conditions of these in vitro leakage studies , it is concluded that smear layer removal improves the fluid-tight seal of the root canal system whereas other factors such as the obturation technique or the sealer , did not produce significant effects
The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether smear layer removal reduces leakage of obturated human teeth in vitro .
A comparison of techniques for assessment of coronal dye leakage.
This study was design ed to compare different techniques for coronal dye leakage testing . One hundred and fifty extracted human anterior teeth were fully instrumented and r and omly divided into two experimental groups of 60 teeth each , plus two groups of 15 teeth each for positive and negative controls . One group was rinsed with 5.25 % NaOCl ( smear layer intact ) , whereas the other group was flushed with 17 % EDTA and 5.25 % NaOCl ( smear layer removed ) . Roots were obturated with gutta-percha using lateral condensation and AH Plus as root canal sealer . Each experimental group was divided into three subgroups of 20 teeth each for three methods of testing coronal dye leakage : passive dye penetration , penetration with vacuum applied , and fluid filtration methods . The teeth were left in 100 % humidity at 37 degrees C for 5 days before being immersed in Indian ink for 2 days and cleared . The linear extent of dye penetration was measured . Mean depth of leakage for the groups with the smear layer intact was 2.5 + /- 1.0 mm for passive dye penetration , 6.7 + /- 2.8 mm for vacuum dye penetration , and 3.0 + /- 1.1 mm for fluid filtration dye penetration . In the group in which the smear layer was removed , the mean depths of leakage were : 3.2 + /- 2.1 mm for passive dye penetration , 5.8 + /- 2.8 mm for vacuum dye penetration , and 3.4 + /- 2.1 mm for fluid filtration . The vacuum method result ed in significantly ( p < 0.05 ) more dye penetration than fluid filtration and passive dye penetration . The presence or absence of smear layer had no statistically significant effect ( p > 0.05 ) on any of the leakage testing techniques
Under the conditions of these in vitro leakage studies , it is concluded that smear layer removal improves the fluid-tight seal of the root canal system whereas other factors such as the obturation technique or the sealer , did not produce significant effects
The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether smear layer removal reduces leakage of obturated human teeth in vitro .