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The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of high-copper amalgam, glass ionomer cement, and silver glass ionomer cement as retrofilling materials when used with and without varnish. Seventy extracted human single-rooted anterior teeth were instrumented and the root canals obturated with laterally condensed gutta-percha and sealer. The apical 3 mm of each root was resected and a 2 mm-deep apical Class I preparation cut. The roots were then randomly allocated to six groups of 10 teeth and retrofilled with one of the experiment materials. Group I comprised high-copper amalgam; group 2, high-copper amalgam with cavity varnish; group 3, glass ionomer cement without varnish; group 4, glass ionomer cement with varnish; group 5, silver glass ionomer cement without varnish; and group 6, silver glass ionomer cement with varnish. Two groups of five roots each were used as positive and negative controls. The root surfaces were coated with nail polish and specimens immersed in 2% methylene blue solution for 14 days. After vertical sectioning, dye penetration was examined under a stereomicroscope. The results of the study were analysed statistically. The sealing ability of the conventional glass ionomer cement with varnish was significantly better while dye penetration was higher in silver glass ionomer cement without varnish group than the other groups (P <0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]