Leakage of different root canal sealants.

One hundred five single-rooted teeth were prepared and filled with ten commercially available root canal paste sealers. Five teeth were filled with only gutta-percha points, fifty teeth were filled with a particular cement alone, and the rest of the teeth were filled with a particular cement in conjunction with gutta-percha points. It was found that the gutta-percha point alone is not sufficient for sealing the periapical foramen; nor are N2 (Sargenti), Riebler's paste, and the iodoform paste. In general, it was found that the combination of gutta-percha and cement is more effective in sealing the periapical foramen. Polycarboxylate cement used in this investigation, although it does not meet all the requirements of a good root canal sealant, was found to yield promising results.