Gutta-percha obturation of lateral grooves and depressions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the movement of gutta-percha into lateral grooves and depressions in the apical 7 mm of a root canal by using the System B Heat Source for the continuous wave of condensation and the Obtura II for the backfill. A split-tooth model was constructed with lateral grooves and dentin depressions prepared at 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm from working length (WL). The study included three experimental groups with 10 obturations in each group: group A-System B Fine heat plugger used at 5 mm from WL; group B-System B Fine heat plugger used at 4 mm from WL; and group C-System B Fine heat plugger used at 3 mm from WL. Group C had statistically better movement of gutta-percha into the 1-mm dentin depression than either group A (p = 0.0005) or group B (p = 0.0025) and better movement of guttapercha into the 3-mm dentin depression than group A. A significant difference in gutta-percha flow into the lateral grooves was seen at 3 mm from WL with group C (p < 0.0001). Group C demonstrated gutta-percha in the grooves, whereas both groups A and B had no gutta-percha in the grooves.