A comparative leakage study of P-30 resin bonded ceramic, teflon, amalgam, and IRM as retrofilling seals

Thirty-six recently extracted teeth were used to evaluate the leakage characteristics of the following materials as retrofilling seals: cold-burnished guttapercha, P-30 with Scotchbond, a recently developed Teflon material, amalgam, and IRM. The teeth were instrumented and obturated with gutta-percha and Kerr's Sealapex. Apical bevels were placed on all of the teeth and class I preparations were prepared and obturation was with the various materials. The teeth were then subjected to an India ink solution. After splitting the teeth, a longitudinal measurement of dye penetration was done. The results showed that IRM, Teflon, and P-30 had statistically significantly less leakage than amalgam. The best results were shown by Teflon and P-30. Clinically, Teflon was the simplest to use.