title: Improved density of gutta-percha after warm lateral condensation.
abstract: Simulated straight root canals in 30 transparent acrylic blocks were instrumented and obturated with gutta-percha without sealer using standard lateral condensation (group A). The "zap and tap" method of warm lateral condensation was then used on the same 30 canals (group B). A second treatment of warm lateral condensation was then applied to these same canals (group C). The acrylic blocks were weighed after initial canal preparation and after each subsequent obturation. A 14.63% increase in weight of the gutta-percha occurred in group B compared with group A, and a 2.43% increase in weight occurred in group C compared with group B. Both differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Residency Program, U.S. Army Postgraduate Dental School, U.S. Army Dental Activity, Fort Gordon, GA.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Liewehr
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kulild
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Primack
mesh_terms: D006171:Gutta-Percha; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006171:Gutta-Percha