Evaluation and Comparison of Apical Leakage Following Root Canal Dressing with Different Calcium Hydroxide Preparations

Statement of the Problem: The use of calcium hydroxide as an intra-canal medication can lead to leakage of permanent obturation of the canal and failure of the treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of the remained calcium hydroxide in radiographic views and their effect on apical leakage. For this study, 75 human extracted premolar teeth were divided into 5 groups randomly. All the teeth were prepared by step back technique and apical foramen enlarged to # 30 file. Aria dent calcium hydroxide was introduced into the canal in group 1. In group 2, Barium sulfate was added to calcium hydroxide powder in 1 to 9 proportion and the method was gone on the same as in group 1. Dentsply calcium hydroxide was mixed with glycerin-based aqueous and introduced into the canal in group 3. Calcium Hydroxide paste (Pulpdent) was introduced into the canal with its special needle. In groups 4 and 5, there was no calcium hydroxide as a control group. The canals were prepared with one size larger than master apical file, MAF (35 file size) to remove calcium hydroxide. The remaining of calcium hydroxide was accessed radiographically and compared using Kruskal Wallis test. Dye leakage in the 5 groups was compared, using ANOVA and Tukey tests. There was no significant difference between the five groups when dye leakage was compared, but calcium hydroxide paste (Pulpdent) shows more remained material when evaluated radiographically. The use of calcium hydroxide paste with methyl cellulose base for intra-canal medicament is not recommended.