Volumetric Evaluation of 5 Root Canal Obturation Methods in TrueTooth 3-dimensional-Printed Tooth Replicas Using...

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims to achieve a complete seal to prevent bacterial reinfection.
• Understanding the impact of different obturation techniques and materials on fill volume and void formation is crucial for successful endodontic treatment.
• Nano-computed tomography offers high-resolution imaging for quantitative volumetric analysis of root canal fillings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the total obturation volumes and void percentages resulting from various root canal obturation techniques.
• To determine if the choice of obturation technique and materials influences the quality of root canal filling.

Main Methods:

• Fifty 3D-printed maxillary central incisor replicas were instrumented and divided into five obturation groups (n=10).
• Techniques included single cone (SC1, SC2), continuous wave (CW), GuttaCore carrier (GC), and cold lateral condensation (CL).
• Nano-computed tomography was used for volumetric analysis of obturation and voids, followed by one-way ANOVA statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant effect of the obturation group on both total obturation volume and void percentage was observed.
• Significant differences in obturation volume were found between SC2, CW, and CL groups compared to SC1 and GC groups.
• Significant differences in void percentage were noted between the SC1 group and the GC and CL groups.

Conclusions:

• The obturation technique and materials employed significantly influence the total volume of obturation material achieved.
• Different obturation methods result in varying degrees of void formation within the root canal system.
• The findings reject the null hypothesis, indicating that technique and material choice are critical factors in root canal obturation quality.