Sara G. El-Gamal, Jealan M. El-Shafei And Heba A. El-Asfouri,

ABSTRACT
Abstract: The Aim Of This Study Was To Assess The Fracture Resistance And Sealing Ability Of Endodontically Treated Teeth Obturated With Guttacore Root Canal Obturator As Compared With Thermafil Root Canal Obturator, And To Examine The Guttacore Material To Verify Its Crosslinked Structure.

Materials and Methods: Ninety Freshly Extracted Single Rooted Mandibular Premolars Were Selected For The Study. Teeth Were Divided Into The Following Groups: Group A (n=20) The Canals Were Obturated With Guttacore Endodontic Obturator And AH Plus Sealer. Group B (n=20) The Canals Are Obturated With Thermafil Endodontic Obturator And AH Plus Sealer. Group C (n=20): Root Canals Were Obturated With Conventional Gutta-percha And AH Plus Sealer Using Lateral Condensation Technique. Thirty Extra Teeth Served As Positive And Negative Control Groups. Mechanical Preparation Was Completed Using Rotary ProTaper Files Up To Size F3. Obturation Was Carried Out In Each Group According To The Manufacturer Instructions. Mechanical Testing Was Done Using A Rounded Tip Attached To Universal Testing Machine. While Linear Dye Penetration Using Silver Nitrate Dye Was Done To Assess The Apical Sealing Ability Of The Tested Materials Under A Stereomicroscope. Finally, The Guttacore Material Was Examined Under Scanning Electron Microscope And Tested For Dissolution In Solvents To Reveal Its Crosslinked Nature. Result: There Was A Non-statistically Significant Difference Between The Guttacore And Thermafil Regarding Fracture Resistance (P>0.5). However, Both Groups Showed Significantly Higher Values Than The Lateral Condensation Group. Guttacore Group Showed Statistically Significant Lower Dye Leakage Than Thermafil (P<0.5).

Conclusions: Based On Our Findings It Could Be Hypothesized That The Guttacore Material Provide Strengthening For The Root Dentin Together With Adequate Sealing Ability Properties Comparable To Lateral Condensation Technique.