Radiopacity of root filling materials using digital radiography

Abstract

Aim To evaluate radiopacity of root filling materials using digital radiography. Methodology The sealers tested were AH Plus^TM, Endofill®, EndoREZ^TM and Epiphany^TM. Gutta-percha (Dentsply Maillefer) and Resilon^TM cones were also tested. Acrylic plates, containing six wells, measuring 1 mm in depth and 5 mm in diameter, were prepared for the test, and filled with the materials. The test samples were radiographed together with an aluminium stepwedge calibrated in millimetres, according to ANSI/ADA Specification 57. For the radiographic exposures, digital imaging plates and an X-ray machine at 70 kVp and 8 mA were used. The object-to-focus distance was 30 cm, and the exposure time, 0.2 s. After the laser optic reading process, the software determined the radiopacity of the standardized areas, using grey-scale values, calculating the average radiographic density for each material. Results The decreasing values of radiopacity of the studied materials, expressed in millimetres of aluminium equivalent, were: Resilon^TM (13.0), AH Plus^TM (11.2), gutta-percha (9.8), Epiphany^TM (8.0), Endofill® (6.9) and EndoREZ^TM (6.6). Conclusion All materials had radiopacity values above 3 mm of aluminium recommended by ANSI/ADA Specification 57.