Influence of Calcium Hydroxide as an Intracanal Medicament on Apical Seal

Aim of the Study: Aim of endodontic therapy is to restore the natural tooth functionally as well as esthetically. The success of the treatment depends predominantly on the reduction or complete eradication of pathogens and their byproducts (mechanically and chemically) along with adequate seal. Studies have concluded that chemo mechanical instrumentation alone will only render 50-70% of infected canals free of microorganisms therefore, an effective antimicrobial agent as intracanal medication should be used to improve treatment outcome. Moreover Improper apical seal has been reported as most common cause of endodontic treatment failure in different studies Therefore it is essential to know the effect of most commonly used intracanal medicament Ca (OH) 2 on apical seal, in order to reduce the chances of endodontic failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of intracanal medicament on apical seal.

Study Design: Quasi Experimental study.

Place of the Study: The samples were prepared at Ziauddin University and was analyzed at Karachi University.

Methodology: Mandibular premolars were prepared using step back technique and were divided into two groups. In Group A, no intracanal medicament was placed and in Group B intracanal medicament was placed. Samples were placed in Indian ink dye for 7 days and were then cleaned in running water before sectioning up to 5 mm (1 mm each) using Microtome and analyzed under stereomicroscope. Shapiro-Wilks test and Mann Whitney U test was used for data analysis.

Results: Group with intracanal medicament showed least amount of dye penetration with mean value 2.30±1.832 as compared to non-medicated group mean value (2.96 ±1.69) but the results were not statically significant p value 0.072.

Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that there is no statistically significant difference in leakage between group A and group B (non-medicated and medicated group).