The single cone obturation technique with a modified warm filler

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims for a complete seal.
• Complex root canal anatomy presents challenges for conventional obturation techniques.
• Evaluating sealer properties under varying conditions is crucial for clinical success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess a warm sealer method with single cone gutta-percha for complex root canal systems.
• To investigate the impact of heat on the physical properties of four root canal sealers.
• To evaluate the void volume using microcomputed tomography.

Main Methods:

• Four root canal sealers (AH Plus, BioRoot RCS, GuttaFlow, prototype) were tested for flow, film thickness, setting time, and radiopacity per ISO 6876.
• Sealer properties were evaluated at room temperature and after heat application (100°C).
• Microcomputed tomography was used to assess void volume with single cone obturation, with and without heat modification.

Main Results:

• Heat application significantly altered the physical properties (setting time, flow, film thickness) of all tested sealers.
• The prototype sealer exhibited different physical properties compared to BioRoot RCS.
• Void volume increased in all sealers when heat was applied, particularly with AH Plus.

Conclusions:

• Heat application affects sealer properties and increases void volume in root canal obturation.
• The single cone technique may be inadequate for complex root canal anatomy.
• AH Plus sealer performance deteriorates significantly when subjected to high temperatures, increasing void formation.