Evaluation of root canal obturation: a three-dimensional in vitro study

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims to create a hermetic seal to prevent bacterial ingress.
• Voids and gaps within root canal fillings can compromise treatment success.
• Evaluating different obturation materials for void formation is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively measure the percentage of voids and gaps in root canals obturated with four different materials using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight single-rooted teeth were prepared and randomly assigned to four groups.
• Cold lateral compaction was used for obturation with gutta-percha/TubliSeal, EndoRez/EndoRez sealer, RealSeal/RealSeal sealer, or gutta-percha/GuttaFlow sealer.
• Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was employed to scan obturated roots and analyze void volumes using specialized software.

Main Results:

• Gutta-percha, when used with TubliSeal or GuttaFlow sealer, exhibited a significantly lower percentage of voids and gaps (1.02%) compared to other materials.
• None of the tested obturation techniques resulted in a completely gap-free root canal filling.
• Gutta-percha consistently showed fewer voids and gaps across the tested sealer combinations.

Conclusions:

• Gutta-percha appears to be a more effective material for minimizing voids and gaps in root canal fillings compared to EndoRez and RealSeal systems.
• Achieving a completely void-free root canal obturation remains a challenge with current materials and techniques.
• Micro-CT analysis provides a reliable method for quantifying intraradicular voids and evaluating obturation quality.