the main objectives of treatment using non - surgical endodontics are cleaning the root canal thoroughly to eliminate bacteria and debris as much as possible , shaping the canal , and filling it completely .
obturation of the root canal is an indispensable step during root canal treatment , and therefore , it is a requisite to perform it to the utmost clinical standards .
one of the vital determinants for the success of endodontic treatment is the material chosen for obturation of the root canals .
the function of root canal filling material is to prevent microorganisms and/or their toxic products from reaching the periapical tissues by sealing the entire root canal system .
the most commonly used obturation material is gutta - percha because it has several desirable properties , for example , it is biocompatible , chemically stable , non - porous , radiopaque , easy to manipulate , and can be removed when necessary
. however , gutta - percha has an important disadvantage , that is , it does not provide a fluid - tight seal because there is no chemical bond between gutta - percha , intraradicular dentin , and sealer .
this major disadvantage of gutta - percha has led to the need for a better product .
the core material resilon in combination with an adhesive system ( epiphany ) was introduced .
this thermoplastic - filled polymer core ( polycaprolactone - based ) has the potential to challenge gutta - percha .
ideally , a root canal sealer should bond simultaneously to intraradicular dentine walls and to the obturation material .
this system also uses a primer to prepare the tooth root surface by etching which creates fingerlike dentinal projections .
these dentinal projections facilitate a lock and key type of bonded seal between the three entities , that is , the tooth , sealer , and core material .
resilon is a thermoplastic synthetic resin material comprising polyester polymers , a bi - functional methacrylate resin , bioactive glass , and radiopaque fillers .
epiphany resin sealer contains bisphenol - a diglycidyldimethacrylate ( bisgma ) , ethoxylatedbisgma , urethane dimethacrylate , hydrophilic difunctionalmethacrylates , silane - treated barium borosilicate glasses , barium sulfate , silica , calcium hydroxide , bismuth oxychloride with amines , peroxide , photo initiator , stabilizers , and pigment .
effect , where the core filling material , sealer , and dentinal tubules become a single solid structure . to test the sealing efficiency of obturation materials , dye penetration method is mostly used .
resilon obturation material claims to have advantages over gutta - percha such as providing a better apical seal and more resistance to fracture by bonding both to the filling material and the dentin walls .
thus , the purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical sealing ability of the resin - based epiphany + resilon endodontic obturation system and to compare this with the sealing abilities of different combinations of sealers and obturation materials ( ah plus , gutta - percha , epiphany , and resilon ) .
the null hypothesis tested in this study was that no difference exists in the apical sealing ability between the root canal filling materials and sealer groups tested .
the present study was undertaken in the department of restorative dentistry , al - farabi dental college , jeddah .
one hundred freshly extracted maxillary incisors were collected based on the inclusion criteria and then divided randomly into four groups of 25 each . 

single rooted maxillary incisors with matured apices 
 tooth with root cariesroots with fracture line or root tip fractureroots with open apextooth with external / internal resorptioncalcified canalscurved roots . 
 
tooth with root caries roots with fracture line or root tip fracture tooth with external / internal resorption the crowns of the teeth were severed at cementoenamel junction with a low speed diamond disc .
the root lengths were standardized to 12 mm , following which all soft tissue calculus was removed with a periodontal scaler .
working length was determined by passing a size 15 k type file ( mani inc . ,
utsonomiya , japan ) into the canal until the tip of the file was just visible through the apical foramen .
the canal was then instrumented with # 15 to # 40 k - files using step - back technique , and irrigated with 2 ml of 5% naocl ( vesnsons pvt . ltd , india ) at each file change .
finally , the canal was prepared using rotary race 40 , 4% ( fkg , la chaux de fonds , switzerland ) , number 15 k file was pushed 1 mm beyond the apex to remove any dentinal plugs and to ensure the patency of the foramen for dye ( india ink dye , nice ) penetration .
then , the canal was immediately flushed with 2.5 ml of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( edta ) ( prime dental ltd ) for 1 min and 2 ml of 5% naocl .
after irrigation with 3 ml of distilled water , the root canals were dried out with an air syringe and absorbent paper points .
the samples were then divided into groups a , b , c , and d , with each group containing 25 samples . 

group a : canals were coated with ah plus ( dentsply ) sealer using a lentulospiral and obturated by 4% no .
40 gutta - percha ( dentsply ) with accessory cones through lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
, the excess cone was severed with a heated ball burnishergroup b : epiphany ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
epiphany sealer was applied to the resilon master cone ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) , which was then inserted in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s ( monitex blue , led)group c : epiphany bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
next , the epiphany sealer was coated onto gutta - percha master cone and accessary cones , which were then placed in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 sgroup d : this was the control group where canals were obturated with 4% no .
group a : canals were coated with ah plus ( dentsply ) sealer using a lentulospiral and obturated by 4% no .
40 gutta - percha ( dentsply ) with accessory cones through lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
, the excess cone was severed with a heated ball burnisher group b : epiphany ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
epiphany sealer was applied to the resilon master cone ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) , which was then inserted in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s ( monitex blue , led ) group c : epiphany bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
next , the epiphany sealer was coated onto gutta - percha master cone and accessary cones , which were then placed in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s group d : this was the control group where canals were obturated with 4% no .
all the specimens were stored in saline at room temperature for 24 h after root canal filling .
the external root surfaces of the teeth were coated with two layers of nail varnish except for the apical 2 mm .
all teeth were vertically suspended with their apices facing downward in india ink for 1 week .
then , a lancet was used to scrape the external root surface to remove the nail varnish . for assessment of the extent of dye penetration ,
a clearing technique was utilized as follows : samples were placed in nitric acid 5% ( s.d fine chemical ltd ) for 3 days where the acid was changed daily and tubes were agitated manually every 6 h. at the end of the 3 day period , roots were tested for decalcification using a sharp probe .
running water was used to rinse the roots for 3 hours , and then submerged in ascending degrees of ethyl alcohol ( hong yang chemicals , china ) .
samples were left in 80% alcohol overnight , in 90% alcohol for 3 h , and finally in 100% alcohol for 3 h. clearing was achieved by immersing the samples in methyl salicylate ( s.d fine chemical ltd ) for 3 h. extent of the dye penetration through transparent roots was measured using a stereomicroscope ( magnus msz - tr ) at a magnification of 8 , and microleakage was evaluated and values were obtained in units .
these values were then converted to millimeters for dye penetration , using the following standard formula .
the measurements were recorded starting from the most apical extent of obturation material to the most coronal extent of dye penetration .
statistical data analysis was done using analysis of variance ( anova ) and tukey test .

 tooth with root cariesroots with fracture line or root tip fractureroots with open apextooth with external / internal resorptioncalcified canalscurved roots . 
 
tooth with root caries roots with fracture line or root tip fracture tooth with external / internal resorption the crowns of the teeth were severed at cementoenamel junction with a low speed diamond disc .
the root lengths were standardized to 12 mm , following which all soft tissue calculus was removed with a periodontal scaler . working length was determined by passing a size 15 k type file ( mani inc . , utsonomiya , japan ) into the canal until the tip of the file was just visible through the apical foramen .
the canal was then instrumented with # 15 to # 40 k - files using step - back technique , and irrigated with 2 ml of 5% naocl ( vesnsons pvt . ltd , india ) at each file change .
finally , the canal was prepared using rotary race 40 , 4% ( fkg , la chaux de fonds , switzerland ) , number 15 k file was pushed 1 mm beyond the apex to remove any dentinal plugs and to ensure the patency of the foramen for dye ( india ink dye , nice ) penetration .
then , the canal was immediately flushed with 2.5 ml of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( edta ) ( prime dental ltd ) for 1 min and 2 ml of 5% naocl .
after irrigation with 3 ml of distilled water , the root canals were dried out with an air syringe and absorbent paper points .
the samples were then divided into groups a , b , c , and d , with each group containing 25 samples . 

group a : canals were coated with ah plus ( dentsply ) sealer using a lentulospiral and obturated by 4% no .
40 gutta - percha ( dentsply ) with accessory cones through lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
, the excess cone was severed with a heated ball burnishergroup b : epiphany ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
epiphany sealer was applied to the resilon master cone ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) , which was then inserted in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s ( monitex blue , led)group c : epiphany bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
next , the epiphany sealer was coated onto gutta - percha master cone and accessary cones , which were then placed in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 sgroup d : this was the control group where canals were obturated with 4% no .
group a : canals were coated with ah plus ( dentsply ) sealer using a lentulospiral and obturated by 4% no .
40 gutta - percha ( dentsply ) with accessory cones through lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
, the excess cone was severed with a heated ball burnisher group b : epiphany ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
epiphany sealer was applied to the resilon master cone ( pentron clinical technologies , llc ) , which was then inserted in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s ( monitex blue , led ) group c : epiphany bonding material was applied after preparation of canals with the primer .
next , the epiphany sealer was coated onto gutta - percha master cone and accessary cones , which were then placed in the root canal by the lateral condensation technique . at the orifice
it was light - cured for 40 s group d : this was the control group where canals were obturated with 4% no .
all the specimens were stored in saline at room temperature for 24 h after root canal filling .
the external root surfaces of the teeth were coated with two layers of nail varnish except for the apical 2 mm .
all teeth were vertically suspended with their apices facing downward in india ink for 1 week .
then , a lancet was used to scrape the external root surface to remove the nail varnish . for assessment of the extent of dye penetration ,
a clearing technique was utilized as follows : samples were placed in nitric acid 5% ( s.d fine chemical ltd ) for 3 days where the acid was changed daily and tubes were agitated manually every 6 h. at the end of the 3 day period , roots were tested for decalcification using a sharp probe .
running water was used to rinse the roots for 3 hours , and then submerged in ascending degrees of ethyl alcohol ( hong yang chemicals , china ) .
samples were left in 80% alcohol overnight , in 90% alcohol for 3 h , and finally in 100% alcohol for 3 h. clearing was achieved by immersing the samples in methyl salicylate ( s.d fine chemical ltd ) for 3 h. extent of the dye penetration through transparent roots was measured using a stereomicroscope ( magnus msz - tr ) at a magnification of 8 , and microleakage was evaluated and values were obtained in units .
these values were then converted to millimeters for dye penetration , using the following standard formula .
the measurements were recorded starting from the most apical extent of obturation material to the most coronal extent of dye penetration .
statistical data analysis was done using analysis of variance ( anova ) and tukey test .
stereomicroscopic evaluation demonstrated dye penetration in all the tested samples [ figures 1 , 2 , 3 ] whereas the positive control samples [ figure 4 ] showed complete dye penetration .
the apical leakage dye penetration was measured for these samples ; wherein apical 4 mm of dye penetration was evaluated .
group a  gutta - percha and ah plus group b  resilon and epiphany group c  gutta - percha and epiphany group d  gutta - percha the mean microleakage values were highest in group d ( gp ) : 3.65  0.38 mm followed by group a ( gp + ah plus ) : 2.58  0.79 mm , group c ( gp + ep ) : 1.95  0.57 mm and the least in group b ( r + e ) : 0.90  0.46 mm , as shown in table 1 .
mean dye penetration values ( in mm ) anova of dye penetration in different groups showed considerable variation , as seen in table 2 where p < 0.001 is statistically significant . because p value is statistically significant , mean values in different groups
differ significantly and was maximum for group d followed by group c , group a , and minimum for group b. analysis of variance table of dye penetration in different groups to detect among which groups there existed a significant difference , we performed multiple comparisons using tukey test .
when a comparative analysis of level of significance between all the groups was done , as shown in table 3 , it revealed that group b [ figure 2 ] had better adaptation to both the dentin walls and the obturation material , as compared to group c [ figure 3 ] followed by group a [ figure 1 ] and group d [ figure 4 ] .
comparative statistical analysis of different groups multiple comparisons statistically significant difference in mean microleakage was observed between group a and b ( p < 0.001 ) , group a and c ( p < 0.01 ) , group a and d ( p < 0.001 ) , group b and c ( p < 0.001 ) , group b and d ( p < 0.001 ) , as well as group c and d ( p < 0.001 ) .
resilon + epiphany group had the least microleakage compared to the combinations of gutta - percha + epiphany , gutta - percha + ah plus , and gutta - percha used as the control group .
the goal of endodontic treatment is to clean the root canal and eliminate all sources of bacteria by obturating the entire root canal system and producing an impervious apical seal .
increased apical leakage is seen in canals sealed with the presence of a smear layer .
the main advantage of resilon over gutta - percha is that resilon bonds to the sealer , which in turn bonds to the intraradicular dentin walls , thus creating a monoblock of material which has excellent apical seal and is more resistant to fracture .
resilon bonds through the complete length of the root canal through micromechanical retention by forming a thin hybrid layer to the self - etching primer - treated root dentin
nevertheless , it is recognized that lab testing remains the only valuable preclinical screening test that can predict or indicate clinical performance .
although in - vitro evaluation of microleakage may not simulate the clinical results exactly , they are useful for screening techniques and are justified for conducting simple comparisons .
microleakage tests are the most favorable in - vitro methods for the evaluation of the sealing efficiency of root canal fillings and/or sealers . in this study , the method used for evaluation of leakage was linear dye penetration because of its sensitivity , easy procedure , and convenience .
this method is based on the supposition that the gap between the root filling and the canal walls is represented by the depth of dye penetration .
various in - vitro studies showed that gutta - percha fillings leak at a rapid rate and do not result in a dependable seal over a long term period . in this study , it was found that the gutta - percha leakage increased with time whereas resilon + epiphany not only produced a superior seal but also maintained it over all time intervals .
studies have been conducted previously comparing the physical properties of gutta - percha and resilon which observed that the shrinkage of resilon is only 0.5% after application of heat when compared with gutta - percha , which shrinks 57% .
found that there was no chemical bonding of gutta - percha to ah plus sealer whereas excellent coupling was found between resilon and epiphany sealer .
a study suggested that there was chemical adhesion between ah plus sealer and the dentin walls , however , no bonding was found between ah plus and gutta - percha ; this lack of attachment between ah plus and gutta - percha may allow a possible avenue for leakage .
it was shown in this study that , at all times , gutta - percha was inferior to resilon + epiphany . under the experimental conditions of this study
, the results showed that resilon + epiphany showed considerably lesser apical leakage than gutta - percha with different sealers .
the present results agree with the results obtained by kqiku et al . and shipper et al . who concluded that the resilon + epiphany root canal filling system demonstrated less apical leakage
previous studies drew similar conclusions using leakage tests and found that epiphany and resilon were superior to gutta - percha ( with ah plus sealer ) . based on the results obtained from this study ,
further clinical studies may be conducted to provide clinical data for assessment of the apical sealing ability in clinical application .
there is also concern over the possibility of biodegradation of resilon / epiphany because the filling material contains polycaprolactone .
within the limitations of this study , it may be concluded that all the samples tested showed microleakage . the microleakage test done by linear dye penetration method revealed that resilon + epiphany group showed minimum dye penetration followed by gutta - percha + epiphany
, gutta - percha + ah plus , and maximum dye penetration was found in gutta - percha which was used as control group .
resilon + epiphany group and the gutta - percha control group showed statistically significant difference in dye penetration .
the resilon + epiphany resin endodontic obturation system showed a superior result to gutta - percha + ah plus and gutta - percha + epiphany sealer with the cold lateral condensation technique .
 aims and objectives : endodontic treatment is directed to eliminate microbial challenges from the root canal system and to create a complete seal . 
 the aim of this study was to assess the apical sealing ability of resin - based epiphany - resilon root canal filling system and to compare it with the sealing abilities of different combinations of ah plus , gutta - percha , epiphany , and resilon.materials and methods : one hundred extracted human maxillary incisor roots were treated endodontically . 
 the samples were divided into groups a , b , c , and d , with each group containing 25 samples . 
 group a : canals obturated with gutta - percha and ah plus sealer ; group b : canals obturated with resilon and epiphany ; group c : canals obturated with gutta - percha and epiphany ; group d : control group canals obturated with gutta - percha without a sealer 
 . the sealing ability of each of the obturation techniques was tested using the dye penetration method followed by the clearing method using alcohol . 
 stereo microscope was used to measure the extent of dye penetration . 
 statistical data analysis was performed using analysis of variance and tukey tests.results:microleakage was found in all the four groups . 
 apical extent of mean microleakage was maximum for gutta - percha , followed by gutta - percha + ah - plus and gutta - percha + epiphany , and the least with resilon + epiphany . statistically significant difference ( p < 0.01 ) was seen in the apical leakage.conclusion:all the samples tested showed microleakage . 
 the  epiphany soft resin endodontic obturation system  showed a superior result compared to other obturation materials . 
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
Financial support and sponsorship
Conflicts of interest