of root fillings and the reactions of periradicular tissues 15 . Magura, et al. 11 (1991) evaluated root canals filled and exposed to the oral environment for three months and suggested retreatment of the root canals. This result is in accordance with the results of the present study, in which the recontamination of root canals without the protection of a coronal restoration and complete filling of the root canal occurred in less than one week. Furthermore, 70% of the root canals that received an intracanal post cemented with resin cement experienced recontamination after 29 days. However, clinically determining whether contact between saliva and the periradicular tissues continues to contraindicate the definitive dental restoration of a tooth whose root canals remained exposed to the oral cavity for a short period remains impossible 14 . Hence, new studies are extremely important to estimate when a retreatment is necessary for teeth exposed to the buccal cavity. CONCLUSION This study showed that root canals with an intracanal post become recontaminated when exposed to fresh human saliva in a short period. REFERENCES 1. Aminsobhani M, Ghorbanzadeh A, Bolhari B, Shokouhinejad N, Ghabraei S, Assadian H, et al. Coronal microleakage in root canals obturated with lateral compaction, warm vertical compaction and guttaflow system. Iran Endod J. 2010;5:83–87. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 2. Eldeniz AU, Ørstavik D. A laboratory assessment of coronal bacterial leakage in root canals filled with new and conventional sealers. Int Endod J. 2009;42:303–312. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2008.01509.x. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 3. Eriksen HM, Kirkevang L-L, Petersson K. Endodontic epidemiology and treatment outcome: general considerations. Endodontic Topics. 2002;2:1–9. [ Google Scholar ] 4. Fleming CH, Litaker MS, Alley LW, Eleazer PD. Comparison of classic endodontic techniques versus contemporary techniques on endodontic treatment success. J Endod. 2