title: Rationale and technique for vertical compaction of warm gutta-percha: the heat wave approach.
abstract: Endodontic treatment rationale is based on anatomic principles, which state that all involved teeth can be saved if the root canal system is sealed, either nonsurgically or surgically, and the tooth is periodontally healthy or can be brought to health. Additionally, the tooth must be restorable, and the patient must be immunologically competent. The history of endodontics validates the effort to clean, shape, and obturate the root canal system as prerequisites for preventing and resolving lesions of endodontic origin. The vertical compaction of warm gutta-percha HW is a time-tested and effective method to achieve predictably successful outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Board of Visitors, USA. johnwest@centerforendodontics.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D006171:Gutta-Percha; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha