Relationship of intracanal pressure with viscosity of endodontic sealer during warm Gutta-Percha vertical compaction.
OBJECTIVE
To test the association between endodontic sealer viscosity and intracanal pressure during warm gutta-percha vertical compaction.


METHODS
An artificial tooth model and pressure-sensing apparatus were developed so that reproducible, quantitative measurements could be determined. Intracanal pressure was measured at 3 phases of obturation: cone insertion, heat application, and force application. Samples were randomly assigned to 3 sealer viscosity groups (most viscous, normal, least viscous) and to a no-sealer group. Evaluations were blinded to group assignments (4 groups, 15 samples per group).


RESULTS
Differences in intracanal pressure were detected between sealer viscosity groups. The most viscous group had the largest intracanal pressure. Throughout the phases of obturation, intracanal pressure did not remain constant; values at the time of heat application were lower than at cone insertion and force application.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that intracanal pressure increases as sealer viscosity is increased, and that intracanal pressure does not remain constant during obturation.
Brooke
K K
KK
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.
Grace
M G
MG
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D003765:Models, Dental; D011897:Random Allocation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014783:Viscosity
D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha