Comparative evaluation of three obturation techniques on the push-out bond strength of two bioceramic sealers: An in vitro study

Introduction: For endodontic therapy to be successful, the root canal system must be well sealed. This study evaluated the push-out bond strength of two bio ceramic sealers: CeraSeal and MTA-Fillapex using three obturation techniques: cold lateral compaction (CLC), warm vertical compaction (WVC), and thermoplasticized gutta-percha (TPGP). Materials and Methods: A total of 48 single-rooted human teeth were selected, prepared, and categorized into six experimental groups ( n = 8 each) based on sealer and obturation technique. Following preparation, the canals were sealed using with either CeraSeal or MTA-Fillapex using CLC, WVC, or TPGP. After 1 week, 3 mm-thick root slices (middle third) underwent assessment of push-out bond strength. Comparisons were carried out using two-way analysis of variance, and intergroup differences were further explored using Tukey’s post hoc test with the significance level set at 5%. Results: The CeraSeal groups demonstrated significantly higher push-out bond strengths compared to the corresponding MTA-Fillapex groups across all obturation techniques ( P < 0.05). Among all, the greatest mean bond strength values were noted in the CeraSeal group obturated with the CLC technique, which recorded a value of 5.99 ± 0.50 MPa. In contrast, the lowest bond strength was noted in the MTA-Fillapex group using the TPGP technique, with a mean value of 0.85 ± 0.20 MPa. When comparing obturation techniques within each sealer group, the trend consistently followed the order: CLC > WVC > TPGP, with statistically meaningful differences between techniques ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The bioceramic sealer outperformed the MTA-based sealer in push-out bond strength across all obturation techniques. Notably, the CLC technique yielded superior sealer–dentin adhesion compared to warm obturation methods.