AimTo assess blooming artifacts caused by root canal sealers in CBCT images compared with those that appeared in micro-CT scan images used as references.Materials and methodThirty freshly extracted human mandibular central incisors were used. Root canals were prepared with nickel titanium files with...

AimTo assess blooming artifacts caused by root canal sealers in CBCT images compared with those that appeared in micro-CT scan images used as references.Materials and methodThirty freshly extracted human mandibular central incisors were used. Root canals were prepared with nickel titanium files with an ISO size 40/0.06 taper and filled with a single cone (40/0.06 taper) and three different sealers. The samples were divided into the following three groups with 10 roots each: (I) AH Plus sealer; (II) Sure Seal Root; and (III) Total BC sealer. Teeth were scanned with the same voxel sizes (0.2mm) in different CBCT devices and the micro-CT images were acquired as reference images.ResultsSignificantly different results in terms of blooming artifacts were detected between CBCT and micro-CT images, as well as among the CBCTs images. The canals filled with AH Plus sealer showed more blooming artifacts than those filled with bioceramic sealers (p<0.05). Additionally, the worst blooming artifact was observed when the images were acquired with lower kilovoltage peak.ConclusionThe appearance of blooming artifacts is dependent on sealer and CBCT, and their effects are significantly worse than they are in micro-CT images. The differential effect of different sealers and distinct CBCT protocols should be further investigated to enable the use of bioceramic sealers without a significant impact on post-treatment imaging.Clinical relevanceRoot canal sealers showed a different extent of blooming artifact in CBCT images. Hence, researchers and clinicians should be aware of these artifacts before conducting endodontic evaluations using CBCT images

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