SEALING PROPERTIES OF ENDODONTIC FILLING MATERIALS USING RADIOACTIVE POLAR AND NONPOLAR ISOTOPES.

Abstract A preliminary study was conducted on the sealing properties of root canal cements, using radioactive isotopes of different particle sizes and chemical polarity. A newly modified autoradiographic technique was used to interpret leakage patterns. Under the conditions used in this study, gross leakage patterns resulted when tooth specimens were filled only with central cores of either gutta-percha or silver cones without cement. A gradient of leakage patterns was observed when eight root canal cements were tested in conjunction with central cores of silver or gutta-percha. Of the eight root canal cements tested with radio-sulfur (S 35 ) and tritiated glucose, only Proco-Sol and AH-26 showed no leakage. Varied results were obtained when the root canal cements were tested with tritiated proline at pH 4.8 and pH 8.2 Kloroperka N-O, Diaket, Pulpdent's PCA, and Kerr sealer exhibited leakage by the method used in this study.