Saturday, October 1, 2011

Non-eugenol sealers

Some sealers are manufactured with a calcium hydroxide base instead of zinc oxide/eugenol, for example Sealapex. This is promoted as having a therapeutic effect, although there has been little reported on this in the endodontic literature. It has been shown, however, that the calcium hydroxide is prone to leakage, which may result in unwanted voids in the seal.
Other sealers are manufactured that contain a wide variety of chemicals. AH+ is an epoxy resin base with a bisphenoldiglycidyl ether liquid. It has a long working time and seals well to dentine. The original AH26 initially caused a severe inflammatory response, which subsided after some weeks, but AH+ is far more biocompatible. Diaket is a polyketone and is presented as a fine powder and thick viscous liquid. The setting time is 8 minutes on the mixing pad and somewhat quicker in the root canal. A glass ionomer cement, Ketac-Endo, is available, which has a relatively low toxicity.

A more recent addition to this group is Roekoseal, a silicone polymer. Although initial experience of this material is favourable, there has been little published on several of these recent materials, and the prudent clinician may wish to await the results of extended clinical trials before adopting these into their practice.