title: Quality of root fillings performed with two root filling techniques. An in vitro study using micro-CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the presence of voids in root fillings performed in oval and ribbon-shaped canals with two root filling techniques, lateral compaction technique (LCT) or hybrid technique (HT), a combination of a gutta-percha masterpoint and thermoplastic gutta-percha. Furthermore, the obturation time for the two techniques was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven roots with oval and ribbon-shaped canals were prepared using Profile Ni-Ti rotary files. After preparation, the roots were randomly allocated to two groups according to root filling technique. All roots were filled with AH plus and gutta-percha. Group 1 was filled using LCT (n = 34) and group 2 was filled using HT (n = 33). The obturation time was measured in 30 cases evenly distributed between the two techniques. Voids in relation to the root canal fillings were assessed using cross-section images from Micro-computed Tomography scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All root canal fillings had voids. Permutation test showed no statistically significant difference between the two root filling techniques in relation to presence of voids (p = 0.092). A statistically significant difference in obturation time between the two techniques was found (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found no statistically significant difference in percentage of voids between two root filling techniques. A 40% reduction in obturation time was found for the HT compared to the LCT.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dental Pathology, Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Department of Dentistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. line.moeller.hansen@odontologi.au.dk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wegge-Larsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kirkevang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*