Influence of time exposure and kVp on endodontics sealers radiopacity

Abstract

This study evaluated the radiopacity of the following endodontic sealers Fillcanal®, Apexit®, Vidrion Endo® and Endomethasone®, varying exposure times (0.3 and 0.4s) and kilovoltage (50 and 70 kVp). For each material studied, five test specimens were made, which were radiographed together with a tooth, at the exposure times and kilovoltages determined. Five optic density measurements were made in each test specimen and tooth image. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess the influence of the kilovoltage factors, exposure time and sealer, and the Mann-Whitney test for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05). Under the assessed conditions, all the materials were more radiopaque than the tooth. With exception of Endomethasone™, which presented lower radiopacity in comparison with the other materials at the two studied exposure times, there was no significant difference among the endodontic sealers evaluated when kilovoltage of 50 kVp was employed. When the materials were exposed, using a kilovoltage of 70 kVp, there was higher optic density for time 0.4s, and at the two exposure times used, the density values among the sealers Vidrion Endo™ and Fillcanal™, and Endomethasone™ and Apexit™ were similar. It was concluded that the kilovoltage factor showed greater influence on radiopacity of the materials than the time exposure. In the same way, kilovoltage of 70 kVp was said to allow the material radiopacity is differentiated by its density and composition.