Evaluation of pH and calcium ion release of Acroseal sealer in comparison with Apexit and Sealapex sealers

Objective. This is an in vitro assessment of pH level and calcium ion release exhibited by 3 calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers-Sealapex, Apexit, and Acroseal. Study design. The materials were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions and placed in 1 cm long and 4 mm diameter tubes. The tubes were then immersed in a glass flask containing 10 mL bidistilled water (n = 15), which was sealed and stored at 37 degrees C before the materials had set. The control group contained bidistilled water with empty tubes (n = 12). At predetermined time intervals (24 h, 96 h, and 7, 15, and 28 days) the pH of the bidistilled water was tested with a pH meter and for released calcium by using spectrophotometry. The data were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance for the comparison of the materials at each time point. If the difference was significant, individual comparisons were performed by Tukey multiple comparisons test (alpha = .05). Results. Sealapex produced higher pH and released significantly higher calcium amounts than the other 2 sealers at all periods (P < .05). Apexit showed higher calcium release than Acroseal at the end of 15 days (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the pH between Apexit and Acroseal (P > .05). Conclusion. The new Acroseal sealer presented the least calcium ion release and pH than Sealapex and less calcium ion release than Apexit sealer.