In Vitro Evaluation of Microleakage of 4 Intra-Orifice Barrier Materials in Endodontically Treated Teeth

Background: This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the sealing effectiveness of 4 different intra-orifice barrier materials, Ionoseal, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Angelus, Estelite Bulk- Fill Flow, and Core-X Flow, placed over root canal fillings, using Rhodamine B dye penetration analysis under a stereomicroscope.

Methods: Fifty extracted human mandibular premolars with single canals were prepared and obturated with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer. The coronal 3 mm of obturation was removed and replaced with 1 of the test materials (n = 10 per group). Positive and negative control groups were included for validation. Application protocols for each material were followed according to the manufacturers’ instructions. All specimens were coated with nail varnish except for the coronal access margin, incubated for 7 days, and then immersed in 0.1% Rhodamine B dye for 24 hours. Longitudinal sections were examined under a stereomicroscope (× 10), and microleakage was scored from 0 to 3. Statistical analyses included Cohen’s Kappa, Kruskal–Wallis, and Dwass– Steel–Critchlow–Fligner tests (P < .05).

Results: Estelite Bulk-Fill Flow exhibited significantly higher dye penetration scores than Core-X Flow (P = .007). In other pairwise comparisons, no significant difference was found between the groups (P > .05).

Conclusion: Core-X Flow showed the lowest median microleakage score; however, it was statistically superior only to Estelite Bulk-Fill Flow. No significant differences were observed between Core-X Flow, MTA Angelus, and Ionoseal. These findings highlight the importance of material selection for improving coronal sealing in endodontically treated teeth.