title: [Real temperature of the continuous-wave pluggers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the real temperatures on the pluggers of three continuous-wave devices, and to provide theoretical reference to evaluate thermal damage and heat's influence on the filling materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dual channel K type thermocouple was contacted to various sizes' pluggers in three different continuous-wave devices (BeeFill, Elements, B&L), and the highest temperatures at different points (tip, and 2 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm from the tip) of the pluggers (preset temperature was 200 °C) were recorded. The measurements were performed 5 times. T-test was used to compare the real temperatures at the tips with that set on the display and one-way ANOVA was used to compare the temperatures of the pluggers in different devices, sizes and points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest temperature was at the tip of BeeFill 40/0.03 plugger (198.7±7.7) °C, but there was on statistical differences between that and the preset temperature 200 °C. The temperatures of the remaining pluggers were obviously lower than 200 °C (P<0.05). The lowest temperature of the pluggers was detected at 10 mm from the tip of BeeFill 60/0.06 plugger (69.9±4.0) °C. The highest temperature of each plugger was detected at the tip or 2 mm from the tip (112.1 to 198.7 °C,and the median was 140.8 °C).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The real temperature of most continuous-wave pluggers included in this study is below the set temperature 200 °C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Dental Material Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China; Dental Clinic, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Xue-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D006358:Hot Temperature; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature