Assessment of effect of post space preparation on the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate and gutta-percha

Abstract

Material and method: 32 freshly extracted human teeth were used for this study (premolars for orthodontic treatment). No 10 K file was used to establish the working length. Following canal preparation and drying the teeth were grouped into 4 study groups: Group A: (n = 8) cold lateral Gutta-percha compaction, followed by immediate post space preparation, Group B: (n = 8) 8 mm MTA apical plug as obturation, followed by removal of 4 mm MTA for post space preparation,Group C: (n = 8) 4 mm MTA apical plug only, followed by delayed post space preparation, Positive control: (n = 8) did not receive any filling material after instrumentation. All these samples were then subjected to the bacterial leakage test after 5 days. The number of leaking samples for each group at different time intervals were observed and noted.