title: A comparison of thermal properties between gutta-percha and a synthetic polymer based root canal filling material (Resilon).
abstract: A new polymer-based obturating material, Resilon, has been developed but there have been no studies identifying its thermal properties. The purpose of this study was to compare the melting point, specific heat, enthalpy change with melting and heat transfer between gutta-percha (GP) and Resilon (R). The first three tests were determined using a differential scanning calorimeter and the heat transfer test was determined using a split-tooth model. Results show no significant difference (t test, p > 0.05) between gutta-percha and Resilon for the melting point temperature (GP: 60.01 degrees C; R: 60.57 degrees C). There was a significant difference (t test, p < 0.05) in specific heat capacity (GP: 0.94 J/g degrees C, R: 1.15 J/g degrees C) and endothermic enthalpy change (GP: 10.88 J/g, R: 25.20 J/g) between the two materials. The heat transfer test showed a significant difference (Mann-Whitney, p < 0.05) in temperature increase between gutta-percha and Resilon within 3 mm of the heat source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Marquette University, School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA. marcus.miner@marquette.edu
authors.forename: Marcus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Berzins
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bahcall
mesh_terms: D002151:Calorimetry; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; C486892:resilon sealer; D006171:Gutta-Percha