title: Comparative analysis of carrier-based obturation and lateral compaction: a retrospective clinical outcomes study.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of primary endodontic treatment using a standardized cleaning and shaping technique and obturation with either lateral compaction or carrier-based obturation. Patients received primary endodontic treatment in the predoctoral dental clinic using a standardized cleaning and shaping protocol. All root canals were obturated using AH Plus(TM) sealer with lateral compaction of gutta-percha (LC) or carrier-based obturation (CBO). A total of 205 cases met the inclusion criteria. 71 teeth in 60 patients were recalled after 2 years and evaluated both clinically and radiographically by two independent examiners. Success was defined as a lack of clinical symptoms and a normal periodontal ligament space or reduction in size of a previously existing periapical radiolucency. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of P < 0.05. There was no difference in success rates between cases obturated with LC or CBO (P = 0.802); overall success rate was 83%. Molars had a significantly lower success rate (53%) than premolar and anterior teeth (89%) (P = 0.005), irrespective of the obturation technique used. When a standardized cleaning and shaping protocol was used by predoctoral dental students in a controlled university setting, there was no difference in success rates between cases obturated with LC or CBO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Gerald N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Glickman
authors.forename: Lynne A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Opperman