Abstract
This in vitro study evaluated the microbial leakage of Cavit, IRM, and Dyract when used as temporary filling materials after root canal treatment. The degree of coronal leakage was assessed by using a microbiological marker consisting of Streptococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. For each of the two organisms, a set of 15 maxillary premolars were prepared chemomechanically and obturated with thermoplasticized gutta-percha. A 3.5-mm thick layer of one of the three temporary filling materials was inserted in the access cavities of the teeth from each group (each group was compromised of five teeth). The control teeth (four positive and four negative) lacked any filling material over the gutta-percha, whereas the orifice and the apical foramen of the negative control were completely sealed with nail polish. Each tooth was placed in a well of a 24-well tissue culture plate and embedded in trypticase soy broth and 0.5% Bactoagar. An organism suspension was inoculated in the access cavity, and microbial penetration was detected as an increase in turbidity of the broth. At the end of 30 days, the results showed that all positive control teeth leaked within 1 week, whereas those that served as negative control remained uncontaminated throughout the test period. With both organisms, IRM started to leak after 10 days, whereas Cavit and Dyract leaked after 2 weeks.