Comparison of traditional and novel endodontic obturation techniques

Objectives:

Safe obturation depends on the biomechanic shaping of root canals. The aim of this in vitro study was, therefore, to compare the areas occupied by guttapercha and sealer after lateral condensation and thermoplastic root canal filling technique in curved artificial root canals prepared by different rotary systems.

Methods:

One hundred simulated canals in plastic blocks were divided into ten groups. Six rotary Nickel-Titanium systems (FlexMaster, M-File, Mity Roto File, NiTi-TEE, ProTaper and ProFile in a combined shaping technique) were used for root canal preparation. After instrumentation fifty canals were filled using lateral condensation technique and the other fifty were obturated with One Step^TM obturators. All canals were coated with EZ-Fill^TM sealer. After obturation the plastic blocks were sectioned horizontally in 1.5 mm distances from the apex up. Photographs of each section were taken using a microscope at a magnification of x100 and the areas of the canal filled with guttapercha and voids/sealer were assessed by AutoCAD 2005. Finally the areas occupied by guttapercha vs. voids/sealer were calculated per section and per canal.

Results:

No statistical difference was shown for all preparation techniques using lateral condensation whereas in the canals obturated by One Step^TM significantly less sealer occupied areas were observed (p<0.01). The ProTaper/ProFile group in combination with One Step^TM had the least percentage of sealer (4.4%), but in combination with lateral condensation the largest (32.7%).

Conclusion:

Good matching between root canal preparation technique and obturation method can improve the performance of endodontic treatment. Warm obturation techniques seem to be superior to cold obturation in form of lateral condensation when used after rotary root canal shaping.