The effect of human blood on the sealing ability of root canal sealers: an in vitro study.

The effect of human blood and moisture contamination on the sealing ability of six commonly used root canal sealers was studied. The materials tested--Tubliseal, Diaket, AH26, Nogenol, Roth, and Endomethasone sealers--were placed in root canals with laterally condensed gutta-percha. The specimens were immediately immersed in blood or saline solution or kept dry for 2 hours. All the teeth were then subjected to methylene blue dye for 1 hour. A comparison of the seal was made by observation of dye penetration around the filling materials. Under all conditions, Tubliseal exhibited the least amount of marginal penetration, followed by AH 26. There was no significant difference in the depth of dye penetration between Diaket and Tubliseal in dry and wet conditions. Although AH 26, Nogenol, Roth, and Endomethasone sealers showed comparable sealing ability under dry conditions, the sealing ability of AH 26 and Diaket was superior to that of Nogenol, Roth, and Endomethasone sealers in moisture contamination. A significant drop in the seals afforded by AH26, Diaket, Roth, and Endomethasone sealers was recorded when these materials were immersed in blood. On the other hand, immersion in blood caused no significant change in the sealing ability of Nogenol.