Marginal gaps and voids of three root-end filling materials: A microcomputed tomographic study

A root-end filling material is required to fill the root-end cavity without gaps or voids, to prevent root canal reinfection and to provide periapical healing. Thus, this study evaluated the volume of marginal gaps and voids of three root-end filling materials using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Thirty maxillary incisors were prepared and filled with gutta-percha and endodontic sealer. The specimens were scanned using micro-CT and distributed into three groups (n = 10): White MTA, MTA Repair HP, and Bio-C Repair. The root tips were resected at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis and the cavity (3 mm depth) was prepared with an ultrasonic tip. The materials were handled, and the cavities were filled. The specimens were rescanned and the percentual volume of gaps and voids were analyzed. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (p < .05). No statistical difference was found in the percentage of gaps among the tested materials (p > .05). White MTA presented less voids than Bio-C and MTA Repair HP (p < .05). The materials presented a similar percentual volume of gaps and White MTA presented less voids than other tested materials.