Microbial leakage of Enterococcus faecalis after post space preparation in teeth filled in vivo with RealSeal versus Gutta-percha.

The purpose of this study was to compare microbial leakage of Enterococcus faecalis after post space preparation in teeth filled in vivo with RealSeal (SybronEndo, Orange, CA) versus gutta percha. Twenty-six premolars in which extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons were endodontically treated before extraction to simulate normal clinical conditions. Ten of these bicuspids were obturated following the RealSeal protocol; the other 10 were filled with gutta percha and Grossman-based formula cement. Post space was prepared immediately after filling leaving 5 mm of apical obturation material. The rest of the teeth were equally divided into the positive and negative control groups. Forty-eight hours later teeth were extracted and submitted to a dual-chamber leakage model using E faecalis. All of the RealSeal-filled teeth showed leakage during the first week, having a mean leakage of 3.5 days (+/-2.32 days). Gutta-percha-filled teeth showed a mean leakage of 10 days (+/-11.53 days). Mann-Whitney U comparison between groups revealed a p = 0.09. Under the conditions of the present study, there is no statistically significant difference in the microleakage of teeth filled with RealSeal compared with gutta percha when post space is prepared.