Bioceramic Sealers in Endodontics: What’s the big deal?

Categories: Endodontics

Author(s): Lauren E. Kuhn, DMD, MSD

Course Type: Self-instruction journal and web based activity

Target Audience: Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienist, Dentists from novice to advanced

Educational Objectives

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify key features of bioceramic sealers and differences from traditional root canal sealers
• Describe biosilicate technology and its differences from other chemical formulations
• Discuss how bioceramic sealers’ properties allow emphasis on sealer, rather than gutta percha
• Implement new obturation techniques that provide a seal with predictable length and density 

Abstract

Endodontics has come a long way in recent decades. There have been changes in instrumentation and irrigation protocols—these effectively clean the root canal system. Now, an obturation paradigm shift has emerged. The goal is to improve the seal of the root canal system and prevent reinfection.

Bioceramic sealers allow clinicians to obturate more predictably and prevent reinfection. There are multiple bioceramic sealers on the market. Some of their key features include: 

• Hydrophilicity (beneficial because the root canal system is never fully dry, due to dentin moisture)
• Slight expansion upon setting (helps sealer penetrate canal intricacies; this contrasts with gutta percha and many traditional sealers that shrink upon setting)
• The ability to obturate with a single cone (hydraulic condensation)
• High pH (inhospitable for bacterial growth)

The majority of root canal treatments are performed by general dentists. Join me to discuss how and why bioceramic sealers can be implemented in your practice.