Fracture resistance of roots filled with either a bioceramic or an epoxy resin-based sealer

Purpose: To assess the influence of two root canal filling systems on root fracture resistance. Materials and methods: Thirty extracted single-canal mandibular premolars were decoronated to a length of 13 mm and randomly distributed into one control group (receiving no treatment) and two other groups according to the filling system used: bioceramic EndoSequence BC Sealer/BC Points; and AH Plus/conventional gutta-percha cones. Canals from the two experimental groups were prepared up to an instrument size 40/.04 and filled with the test system using the single cone technique. After storage at 100% humidity and 37°C for 2 weeks, each root was subjected to a compression test using a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min speed until vertical fracture occurred. Data were statistically analysed by the Kruskal-Wallis test, with the significance level set at P 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference between the load required to fracture roots filled with the two obturation systems (P > 0.05). Untreated roots showed a slightly higher fracture resistance value when compared to the treated ones, but not to the point of reaching statistical significance (P > 0.05). Interpretation: Roots filled with either the EndoSequence BC system or AH Plus/gutta-percha showed statistically similar fracture resistance when compared with untreated roots. Keywords: bioceramic-coated points, bioceramic sealer, epoxy resin sealer, fracture resistance, root canal filling The authors deny any conflicts of interest.