Real-time Intracanal Temperature Measurement During Different Obturation Techniques.

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Assessing temperature development in endodontic sealers is crucial for understanding clinical safety.
• Simulating in vivo conditions, including body temperature, is essential for accurate sealer behavior studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate temperature changes in endodontic sealers using various obturation techniques.
• To compare heat generation during continuous wave, warm backfill, Thermafil, and single-cone obturation methods.

Main Methods:

• Human maxillary canine teeth were instrumented and prepared with artificial side canals.
• Type K thermocouples measured temperature changes at specific distances from the apex during obturation.
• AH Plus sealer was used with four different obturation techniques in a simulated closed system at 37°C.

Main Results:

• Continuous wave and warm backfill techniques produced significantly higher temperatures than Thermafil and single-cone obturation.
• The continuous wave technique generated higher temperatures than warm backfill at 3mm and 6mm from the apex.
• Thermafil obturation resulted in negligible temperature increases.

Conclusions:

• Continuous wave technique causes the highest temperature increase (max 19.1°C) in endodontic sealers within a simulated closed system.
• Temperature increases observed were lower than predicted by root surface temperature studies.
• Technique selection impacts intra-canal temperature rise during endodontic obturation.