Recent Advances in Root-End Filling Materials: A Literature Review

Surgical endodontic therapy has been evolved as an alternative to resolve endodontic treatment failures which commonly results due to inadequate apical seal. Surgical endodontic therapy is performed by exposure of root ends followed by root end preparation and placement of appropriate “root-end filling material”. Numerous root-end filling materials are being used where non surgical endodontic therapy fails or is contraindicated. Various root-end filling materials were used in past such as ‘amalgam ’, ‘glass ionomer cement ’, ‘composite resins ’and ‘zinc oxide eugenol ’based cements. However newer generation “root-end filling materials ”prove to provide better clinical success in terms of superior ‘handling characteristics ’, enhanced ‘biocompatibility ’, better ‘marginal adaptation ’‘improved bioactivity ’, ‘antibacterial property ’and reduced cytotoxicity potential. This article aims to review the literature on recent root-end filling materials.