title: Porosity distribution in root canals filled with gutta percha and calcium silicate cement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gutta percha is commonly used in conjunction with a sealer to produce a fluid-tight seal within the root canal fillings. One of the most commonly used filling methods is lateral compaction of gutta percha coupled with a sealer such as calcium silicate cement. However, this technique may result in voids and worse, the filling procedures may damage the root.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the volume of the voids associated with two root canal filling methods, namely lateral compaction and single cone. Micro-computed tomography was used to assess the porosity associated with each method in vitro. An automated, observer-independent analysis protocol was used to quantify the unfilled regions and the porosity located in the sealer surrounding the gutta percha.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly less porosity was observed in root canals filled with the single cone technique (0.445% versus 3.095%, p<0.001). Porosity near the crown of the tooth was reduced 6 fold, whereas in the mid root region porosity was reduced to less than 10% of values found in the lateral compaction filled teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that changing the method used to place the endodontic biomaterials improves the quality and homogeneity of root canal fillings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.moinzadeh@acta.nl.
authors.forename: Amir T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Moinzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: wilhelmzerbst@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zerbst
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.boutsioukis@acta.nl.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boutsioukis
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hshemesh@acta.nl.
authors.forename: Hagay
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.affiliation: Julius Wolff Institute, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: Paul.Zaslansky@charite.de.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zaslansky
mesh_terms: D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000737:chemistry*; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D016062:Porosity; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods; D012823:Silicate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D012823:Silicate Cement; D006171:Gutta-Percha; C031293:calcium silicate
keywords: Canal diameter; Filling materials; MicroCT; Morphological operations; Porosity; Voids