Comparative evaluation of penetration of sealers in dentinal tubules using passive ultrasonic irrigation and Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser - A confocal laser scanning microscope study

Twinkle Talreja; Anita Tandale; Rahul Kunkulol; Vaishnavi Maniyar; Karishma Krishnakumar; Ridhi Dube; Prajakta Kokate

doi:10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_105_23

Comparative evaluation of penetration of sealers in dentinal tubules using passive ultrasonic irrigation and Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser - A confocal laser scanning microscope study

J Conserv Dent Endod. 2023 Nov-Dec;26(6):634-638. doi: 10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_105_23. Epub 2023 Nov 22.

Authors

Twinkle Talreja¹, Anita Tandale¹, Rahul Kunkulol², Vaishnavi Maniyar³, Karishma Krishnakumar¹, Ridhi Dube¹, Prajakta Kokate¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
² Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Director Research, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (DU), Loni, Maharashtra, India.
³ Consultant, Orthodontist, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Context: Smear layer clearance and sealer penetration into dentinal tubules play a crucial role in root canal treatment. Hence, efficient irrigation is a crucial component of the root canal debridement. This in vitro study's objective was to assess the effectiveness of passive ultrasonic activation and Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er: YAG) laser-activated irrigation on irrigation solution penetration and sealer penetration into dentinal tubules.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the dentinal tubule penetration of epoxy resin-based sealer and bioceramic sealer after ultrasonic agitation and Er: YAG laser activation of the irrigant.

Settings and design: This was an in vitro study.

Materials and methods: Extracted tooth samples (n = 42) into 06 groups (Group A-F) with 7 samples in each group. Postobturation transverse section was made and assessed under a confocal laser scanning microscope for the total dentinal tubule penetration area and recorded as the mean apical, middle, and coronal penetration.

Statistical analysis: One-way analysis of variance test, followed by post hoc was used.

Results: The intergroup comparison showed that Group E and Group F have significantly more penetration as compared to the controls and ultrasonic irrigation, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively.

Conclusions: Er: YAG laser with AH plus sealer has the highest penetration in all the sections of tooth, followed by CeraSeal sealer.

Keywords: AH plus sealer; CeraSeal sealer; confocal laser scanning microscope; dentin tubule penetration; erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser; ultrasonic irrigation.