Evaluation of Microfiltration in Temporary Sealing Using Cotton vs. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a Spacer Material in Endodontic Treatment at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University: An In Vitro Study

Coronal microfiltration can compromise the temporary seal during endodontic treatment and contribute to contamination of the root canal system. This study evaluated the performance of cotton and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as spacer materials, based on the hypothesis that there are significant differences in the degree of microfiltration of the temporary seal between the two materials. The dataset comes from an in vitro experimental study conducted on 60 extracted human molars, divided into two groups of 30 specimens: cotton and PTFE. Each group was further subdivided for evaluation at 48 hours, 3 days, and 5 days. The teeth were provisionally restored with Coltosol, stained with 2% methylene blue, sectioned longitudinally, and evaluated under an optical microscope. The data include spacer material, duration of use, presence, degree, and length of microfiltration, and integrity of the provisional seal. The results showed microfiltration in 22 of the 30 samples containing cotton (73.3%), while none of the 30 samples containing PTFE exhibited microfiltration, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Residence time did not show significant differences in microfiltration (p=0.317). The data demonstrate that PTFE performs better in reducing microfiltration under the experimental conditions evaluated and can be used to compare the two materials, replicate the analyses, and support future research on temporary sealing in endodontics.