[Comparison of guttapercha points of different brands]

Many new devices and instruments have been developed in the field of endodontics, however, even today guttapercha is the most commonly used root canal filling material and lateral condensation is still widely the technique of choice. It is crucial that the guttapercha point should not bend away during insertion into the root canal, and that the size of the guttapercha point is in accordance with the size-coding marked on the container. However, there is no data on the difference between the dimensional accuracy and the rigidity of guttapercha points produced by various manufacturers. The aim of the authors' study was to compare guttapercha points of different brands (ANTEOS, DENTSPLY, DIADENT, EXPORDENT, FKG, META, ROEKO, ROSA BECHT, SURE ENDO). The rigidity of guttapercha points (n = 10 in each group) and the dimensional accuracy has been measured (n = 10 in each group) with an instrument developed for this purpose. Statistical analysis has been performed by ANOVA, level of significance was (p < 0.05). In the group FKG significant (p < 0.05) higher forces were necessary to bend guttapercha points. No other significant difference has been shown between the investigated groups (p > 0.05). In the dimensional accuracy there were significant differences (p < 0.05). The least deviation from the assigned dimension has been found in the ROSABECHT group, and the highest in the FKG group. In the dimensional accuracy the least standard error has been found in ROSABECHT group, and the highest in EXPORDENT group. The most extreme deviations have been shown in META and DENTSPLY group. The results of the present study show that guttapercha points frequently deviate from the marked dimension: a guttapercha point from the ISO 25 container may even reach the size of an ISO 30 guttapercha. This has to be taken into account during root canal obturation.