Bone tissue response to a methacrylate-based endodontic sealer: a histological and histometric study.

Biocompatibility of endodontic sealers is a prime requisite for successful endodontic therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reaction of bone to a methacrylate-based endodontic sealer. Silicone tubes, filled with a methacrylate-based sealer and silicone rods used as controls, were implanted in the tibias of white male Wistar rats. Ten and 60 days after implantation the reaction of the bone was analyzed by means of histological and histometric methods. After 10 days the amount of reactionary bone in contact with the methacrylate-based sealer was significantly lower than that observed for the controls (p < 0.05). Cell counts demonstrated that the number of inflammatory cells that were in contact with the sealer were significantly higher (p < 0.05). After 60 days, no significant differences were observed in the amount of reactionary bone that was in contact with either material. The initial inflammatory reaction observed for the methacrylate-based sealer was resolved. Furthermore the cell counts demonstrated no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the methacrylate based sealer and control.