title: Comparison of lateral condensation and thermomechanically compacted warm alpha-phase gutta-percha with a single cone for obturating curved root canals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the sealability and radiographic quality of root fillings in extracted teeth by using lateral condensation of gutta-percha or alpha-phase gutta-percha in conjunction with a single gutta-percha cone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 single-rooted teeth were divided into 2 groups of 54 teeth based on canal shape. Canals were prepared to a minimum 0.055 taper and enlarged to a size 35 at the working distance. Irrigation was done with 17% EDTA and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to remove smear layer. One group was obturated by using cold lateral condensation of gutta-percha; the other group was obturated with thermomechanically compacted alpha-phase gutta-percha and a single cone of gutta-percha. Apical extrusion of sealer or gutta-percha was recorded. Sealability of each technique was assessed by dye penetration. The radiographic quality of obturation was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Root canals filled with alpha-phase gutta-percha and a single cone had significantly more extrusion of sealer than canals filled by lateral condensation. Lateral condensation achieved significantly better scores for radiographic quality. There was no significant difference between the 2 filling techniques in terms of apical or coronal leakage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thermomechanically condensed alpha-phase gutta-percha used in conjunction with a single gutta-percha cone had poorer radiographic quality than laterally condensed gutta-percha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Dental Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gilhooly
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dummer
mesh_terms: D003763:Dental Leakage; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006171:Gutta-Percha