Evaluation of Microfiltration in Temporary Sealing Using Cotton vs. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a Spacer Material in Endodontic Treatment at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University: An In Vitro Study
Description
Coronal microfiltration can compromise the temporary seal during endodontic treatment and contribute to contamination of the root canal system. This study evaluated the performance of cotton and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as spacer materials, based on the hypothesis that there are significant differences in the degree of microfiltration of the temporary seal between the two materials. The dataset comes from an in vitro experimental study conducted on 60 extracted human molars, divided into two groups of 30 specimens: cotton and PTFE. Each group was further subdivided for evaluation at 48 hours, 3 days, and 5 days. The teeth were provisionally restored with Coltosol, stained with 2% methylene blue, sectioned longitudinally, and evaluated under an optical microscope. The data include spacer material, duration of use, presence, degree, and length of microfiltration, and integrity of the provisional seal. The results showed microfiltration in 22 of the 30 samples containing cotton (73.3%), while none of the 30 samples containing PTFE exhibited microfiltration, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Residence time did not show significant differences in microfiltration (p=0.317). The data demonstrate that PTFE performs better in reducing microfiltration under the experimental conditions evaluated and can be used to compare the two materials, replicate the analyses, and support future research on temporary sealing in endodontics.
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For this study, 60 extracted human molars that met the established inclusion criteria were selected. The samples were disinfected by immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 30 minutes, rinsed with distilled water, and stored in distilled water until use. Subsequently, coronal openings were created, and the external surface of the teeth—except for the occlusal surface—was sealed. The specimens were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 teeth based on the spacer material used: cotton and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In both groups, Coltosol was applied as a temporary restorative material and allowed to set initially for two hours in distilled water. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of 10 specimens corresponding to periods of 48 hours, 3 days, and 5 days. The samples were individually immersed in 2% methylene blue for the assigned duration, then rinsed with distilled water and sectioned longitudinally with a diamond disc. Dye penetration was evaluated using a Stemi 305 optical microscope; the penetration depth was recorded in millimeters, and microfiltration was classified as absent, mild, moderate, or severe. Once data collection was complete, the information obtained was recorded and processed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics to perform the corresponding statistical analysis and compare the performance of cotton and PTFE as endodontic spacer materials.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez UreñaNacional, Santo Domingo