title: Comparison of concentric condensation technique with laterally condensed gutta-percha.
abstract: Sixty mandibular premolars with large, straight canals and 60 nonjoining narrow, curved canals from mesial mandibular molar roots were obturated with gutta-percha via 1 of 3 methods: lateral condensation with sealer, or concentric condensation without sealer. The sealer used was a zinc oxide-eugenol without radiopacifiers. The premolar teeth were radiographed next to a step wedge, both before and after obturation. All teeth were exposed to India ink as a test for linear dye leakage, then cleared, and the leakage recorded. The pre- and postobturation radiographs were scanned at 2 and 6 mm from the apex using a Joyce-Loebel microdensitometer to establish the radiographic density of the obturation material, and a density ratio for the obturation was calculated using the cross-sectional diameter of the obturating material. The incidence of gutta-percha extrusion and Micro-Flow Compactor breakage was recorded. Two-way analysis of variance for linear dye leakage revealed no significant differences between the lateral and concentric condensation groups when sealer was used (p > 0.05). The concentric condensation without sealer groups exhibited significantly greater leakage (p < 0.00001) than the other groups, showing the importance of using sealers. One-way analysis of variance found no significant differences in radiographic density ratios between groups at 2 mm (p > 0.05) or 6 mm from the apex (p > 0.05). The incidence of extrusion was not significant, but a high rate of #30 condensor breakage was found.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: ElDeeb
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001641:Bicuspid; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003763:Dental Leakage; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005054:Eugenol; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008963:Molar; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015034:Zinc Oxide
chemical_list: D005054:Eugenol; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D015034:Zinc Oxide