title: A description of an alternative method of lateral condensation and a comparison of the ability to obturate canals using mechanical or traditional lateral condensation.
abstract: A modification of the lateral condensation of gutta-percha technique is described. After master cone adaptation is completed a nickel-titanium finger spreader placed in a reciprocating-action handpiece is used to laterally displace cold gutta-percha, creating space for accessory cones. The technique produces a compacted mass of gutta-percha in the canal, which can usually be removed in toto if corrections are required. This technique was compared with lateral condensation by obturating curved or straight canals in acrylic blocks, then removing, sectioning, and weighing the gutta-percha mass. Two different operators were also compared. Results were analyzed using a factorial ANOVA test. The experimental obturations were significantly heavier on average than were lateral condensation fills (p < 0.001). One operator's obturations were consistently heavier than the others (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the weight of fills in straight and curved canals.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, College of Dentistry, Lincoln 68583-0740, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Gound
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Riehm
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Makkawy
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Odgaard
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009532:Nickel; D015588:Observer Variation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D014025:Titanium