Radiopacity of root filling materials using digital radiography

Aim To evaluate radiopacity of root filling materials using digital radiography. Methodology The sealers tested were AH Plus(TM), Endofill (R), 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 (R) (6.9) and EndoREZ(TM) (6.6). Conclusion All materials had radiopacity values above 3 mm of aluminium recommended by ANSI/ADA Specification 57.