RETREATMENT OF ROOT CANAL FILLINGS PERFORMED WITH A CALCIUM SILICATE BASED ROOT CANAL SEALER AND GUTTA-PERCHA WITH DIFFERENT ROOT CANAL SOLVENTS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiencies of different conventional solvents on the removal of root fillings performed with MTA Fillapex root canal sealer and gutta-percha. Material and Method: Forty-five maxillary central incisors human teeth were included. Sample lengths were adjusted to 16 mm and root canal preparations were performed with K3 instruments up to 30/.04 size. MTA Fillapex root canal sealer and gutta percha were used to obturate the canals with cold lateral condensation technique. The teeth were stored for 1 week at 37 C in 100% relative humidity. Specimens were randomly assigned into three groups (n:15): G1: Resosolv, G2: Endosolv E and G3: Guttasolv. 35/.04 K3 instruments were used as the final retreatment instruments. Final irrigation was performed and root canals were dried. The teeth were split along their long axis and operating microscope at 10x magnification was used to evaluate the amount of remaining root filling material. Samples were then scored. SEM and EDS analysis were used to enhance the accuracy of evaluations. Data were subjected to statistical interpretation using Kruskal-Wallis test at a 95% confidence level (p<0.05). Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the three experimental groups in the apical, middle and coronal thirds of the root canals (p>0.05). Intra group comparisons showed that apical, middle and coronal thirds of each group showed no significant differences among themselves (p>0.05). Conclusion: Root fillings performed with MTA Fillapex and gutta percha could be retreated with the solvents used in the study.