title: A comparison of two gutta-percha obturation techniques to replicate canal irregularities in a split-tooth model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare a modified injectable gutta-percha (MIGP) obturation technique with continuous wave technique (CWT) for the ability to fill the root canal system (RCS) and replicate artificially created intracanal defects at the apical third, using a split-tooth model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A maxillary canine was use to build a split-tooth model. The root canal was cleaned and shaped using crown-down technique with rotary files to size #40 at the apex. Intracanal defects were created in the dentin of the root canal walls with a half-round bur at the apical third. The canal was obturated 48 times with gutta-percha and sealer. Twenty-four obturations were performed for each technique, MIGP and CWT. After each obturation, the model was separated in 2 halves; buccal and lingual. Each obturation was examined and photographed under operating microscope at ×5 magnification. The images were blindly evaluated by 2 endodontists for the length of gutta-percha fill, ability to fill the RCS, presence of voids, and replication of the canal defects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test and showed statistical difference between the 2 groups in the quality of the obturation (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MIGP technique appeared to replicate the canal defects at the apical third better than CWT, with fewer voids in between the canal walls and the gutta-percha mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0436, USA.
authors.forename: Marianella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natera
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pileggi
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D003481:Cuspid; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008437:Maxilla; D003765:Models, Dental; D012212:Rheology; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha