Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of Sure-Seal Root as a new bioceramic-based sealer, and compare it with other sealers, including an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH-Plus), zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) and a mineral trioxide aggregate-based sealer (MTA Fillapex). Methods: In this in vitro study, 40 extracted mandibular premolars were randomly assigned into 4 groups (n=10) according to the type of sealer applied as follows: Group 1: AH-Plus, Group 2: MTA-Fillapex, Group 3: Sure-Seal Root, and Group 4: ZOE. The canals were prepared and obturated with gutta-percha and the corresponding sealer. The samples were sectioned into horizontal segments, and the push-out bond strength was determined using a universal testing machine at the coronal, middle, and apical root thirds. The data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA, and the significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: There were no significant differences in the push-out bond strength between groups in the coronal third (P>0.05). In the middle third, AH-Plus exhibited significantly greater bond strength compared to Sure-Seal Root and ZOE sealers (P<0.05), whereas MTA-Fillapex was not significantly different from the other groups (P>0.05). In the apical third, both AH-Plus and MTA-Fillapex showed significantly greater push-out bond strength than Sure-Seal Root and ZOE sealers (P<0.05). Conclusions: AH-Plus sealer exhibited the highest and ZOE showed the lowest bond strength. Sure-Seal Root indicated promising bond strength results when compared to ZOE and MTA-Fillapex. The push-out bond strength of all sealers to dentin increased from the coronal to the apical third.

Introduction: Bioactive endodontic sealers have been developed to improve the quality of root canal obturation. Endo Sequence Bioceramic (BC) Sealer is amongst calcium silicate based materials recently developed for permanent root canal filling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioactivity of BC Sealer and its micro push-out bond strength to dentin compared to AH-Plus (AH) sealer.Methods and Materials: To perform the micro push-out test, 24 root canals of mandibular premolars were instrumented and divided into two groups (n=12). Each root was cut into 4 slices and lumens of the canals were filled with the sealers and submitted to micro push-out test. Failure mode was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bioactivity of BC sealer was investigated with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Bioactivity assessments were reported descriptively. Bond strength data were analyzed by parametric test (a=5%).Results: In micro push-out test AH had higher bond strength mean values (16.29 MPa) than BC sealer (9.48 MPa) (P<0.05). Both groups had low amount of adhesive failure. SEM showed the presence of a mineral precipitate after 30 days and EDS analysis showed that those precipitates have high proportion of Ca. XRD showed peaks of crystalline phases of calcium carbonate compatible with the bioactivity.Conclusion: BC sealer showed indications of bioactivity and lower bond strength to dentine compared to AH.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effects of different agitation techniques of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) as the final irrigation with XP-Finisher file, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), Er: YAG laser and irrigation with conventional syringes, on penetration of Sure Seal Root bioceramic sealer into dentinal tubules. Methods and Materials: Forty freshly extracted single-rooted human teeth were included in the present in vitro study. All the teeth were prepared up to #40 (4%) with Bio Race rotary file system, using crown-down technique. After chemomechanical preparation, the teeth were randomly assigned to 4 groups based on the agitation protocol: conventional needle irrigation (CNI) with a 30-G needle in a syringe, PUI, Er: YAG laser and XP-Finisher file, Subsequent to the agitation procedure, the root canals were obturated with tapered bioceramic-covered gutta-percha point and, bioceramic sealer, using the single-cone technique. The maximum penetration of the sealer into the dentinal tubules was determined in the coronal, middle and apical thirds using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique. After confirmation of the normal distribution of data with Shapiro-Wilk test, Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: The mean penetration depth of the bioceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules in the PUI group was greater than that of other groups; however, the difference between the two PUI and Er: YAG laser groups in the apical third was not significant (P=0. 078). Er: YAG laser, PUI and XP-Finisher file agitation techniques resulted in significantly greater penetration of the bioceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules compared to the CNI (P<0. 001). The XP-Finisher file technique in the apical (P=0. 752) and middle thirds (P=0. 339) and the Er: YAG laser technique in the apical thirds (P=0. 086) were not significantly different from the conventional irrigation technique. Conclusion: The PUI technique resulted in significantly deeper penetration of the Bioceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules compared to the three other techniques.

Background: This study evaluated the interface between fresh eugenol/bioceramic sealer‑, conditioned coronal dentin and high‑, viscous glass‑, ionomer cement (HVGIC), treated with various dentin conditioners (saline, 10% polyacrylic acid, and 37% phosphoric acid). Materials and Methods: Standard endodontic access preparation and instrumentation were done in 21 freshly extracted mandibular molar teeth in this in vitro study. Teeth were divided into two interventional groups (n = 9/group), based on the type of sealer (zinc oxide eugenol [ZOE]/ bioceramic [BioRoot RCS] sealer) used for obturation. Samples were further subdivided based on the type of dentin‑, conditioning procedures performed (saline/10% polyacrylic acid/37% phosphoric acid). Post dentin conditioning, the access cavity was sealed with HVGIC. Later, material‑, dentin interfacial analysis and elemental analysis were done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‑, dispersive X‑, ray spectroscopy. Results: The interfacial SEM images of HVGIC layered over B‑, RCS/ZOE sealer‑, conditioned dentin, treated with saline, showed predominantly adhesive debonding failures, whereas cohesive debonding was observed with polyacrylic and phosphoric acid. In the elemental analysis, the intensity of zirconium (depicting the residue of B‑, RCS)/zinc (depicting ZOE sealer) was very high on the dentin side treated with saline, in comparison to the dentin treated with polyacrylic and phosphoric acid. Furthermore, the intensity of elements from HVGIC was low on the dentin side of the groups with saline, whereas these elements showed maximum penetration into the dentin when treated with phosphoric acid. Conclusion: Conditioning of the endodontic access cavity using 37% phosphoric acid immediately postobturation resulted in higher penetration of HVGIC into the dentin, in comparison to the other dentin conditioners.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of different irrigation protocols for smear layer removal on the bond strength of EndoSequence BC Sealer, a new bioceramic sealer, to root canal dentin. Materials and Methods: The middle third of forty-four extracted human teeth were sectioned horizontally to obtain 128 dentin disks. After standardization of canal spaces, dentin disks were immersed in 5.25% NaOCl for 20 min. The specimens were then randomly assigned to four groups (n=32) according to dentin treatment procedure: group 1, 17% EDTA (1 min); group 2, 17% EDTA (1 min)+5.25% NaOCl (5 min); group 3, 17% EDTA (1 min)+2% chlorhexidine (CHX) (5 min); and group 4, 17% EDTA (1 min) +saline (5 min). After dentin treatment, two specimens of each group were prepared for investigation with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface of root canal wall was assessed in each specimen. Then the canal spaces were filled with EndoSequence BC Sealer in the remaining specimens. Push-out bond-strength and failure modes were assessed. The data on push-out test were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test. The significance level was set at P=0.05.Results: There was no significant difference between the bond strengths of test groups (P=0.203). The bond failure was mainly cohesive for all groups.Conclusion: Under the conditions of this ex vivo study, it could be concluded that the application of 17% EDTA alone or followed by 5.25% NaOCl, 2% CHX, or saline resulted in similar bond strength of EndoSequence BC Sealer to dentinal walls.