title: Comparison of laterally condensed and low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha root fillings.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the radiographic quality and sealability of root fillings in extracted human teeth using lateral condensation of gutta-percha or low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha (Ultrafil). One hundred freshly extracted human, mature single-rooted teeth were divided into four identical groups of 25 teeth on the basis of root canal shape. The root canals of two groups were prepared in such a way to produce a relatively parallel shape with little or no flare toward the coronal orifice. The root canals of the other two groups were prepared in such a way as to produce a canal shape that was deliberately more flared to ensure that they were wider at the orifice than at the end point of the preparation. All root canals were flushed with 17% EDTA solution and 2.5% NaOCl to remove the dentinal smear layer. The canals of one flared group and one parallel group were obturated using cold lateral condensation, and the canals of the other two groups were obturated using low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha. The sealability of each technique was assessed by a dye penetration method. The radiographic quality of obturation was determined for each canal using a 4-point scale. Canals filled with thermoplasticized gutta-percha had significantly less apical dye penetration than those obturated by lateral condensation (p < 0.001). Lateral condensation achieved significantly better scores for radiographic quality than thermoplasticized gutta-percha from both the buccolingual (p < 0.005) and mesiodistal views (p < 0.001). Low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha root fillings were associated with significantly more apical extrusion of sealer (p < 0.001) and gutta-percha (p < 0.005). Under laboratory conditions the low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha had better sealability but poorer radiographic quality than lateral condensation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Dental Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Dewani
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dummer
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004396:Coloring Agents; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000145:classification; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004492:Edetic Acid; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D016877:Oxidants; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D016369:Smear Layer; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016877:Oxidants; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite