Comparison of obturation quality of different root canal filling materials available for use in retained primary molars: An in vitro study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the obturation quality of three different root canal filling materials suitable for use in retained primary molars with missing permanent successors, using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). A total of 15 extracted human primary molars were selected and randomly divided into three groups (n=5 each): Group 1—ProRoot MTA (Dentsply®), Group 2—NeoSealer Flo (Avalon Biomed, USA) with gutta-percha (Diadent, Korea), and Group 3 (control)—AH Plus (Dentsply®) with gutta-percha. Root canal preparation was performed, followed by pre-obturation micro-CT scans (SkyScan 1275, Bruker micro-CT, Belgium). After obturation according to the assigned materials, post-obturation scans were performed. The parameters evaluated included filling percentage, total porosity, open pore percentage, and closed pore percentage within the filled canals. Quantitative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding filling percentage, total porosity, open porosity percentage, and closed porosity percentage values (p>0.05). All materials demonstrated acceptable filling quality under in vitro conditions. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, ProRoot MTA, NeoSealer Flo with gutta-percha, and AH Plus with gutta-percha showed comparable obturation performance in primary molars requiring long-term retention. Further clinical studies are recommended to confirm these findings.