Micro-CT Evaluation of Four Root Canal Obturation Techniques.

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Root canal obturation aims to create a fluid-tight seal to prevent bacterial ingress.
• Microleakage and void formation are critical factors affecting the long-term success of root canal treatment.
• Evaluating different obturation techniques is essential for improving clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of four root canal obturation techniques in minimizing void formation.
• To quantitatively assess the quality of root canal fillings using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT).

Main Methods:

• Four obturation techniques were evaluated: lateral condensation (LC2, LC4), matched single-cone (MS), and matched single cone-mediated ultrasonic activation (MSUA).
• Mandibular first premolars were instrumented and obturated using an epoxy resin-based sealer.
• Micro-CT scanning was performed to calculate the percentage volume of voids in the root canals.

Main Results:

• The MSUA group exhibited significantly fewer voids compared to all other techniques (P < 0.05).
• The MS group showed significantly lower void percentages than both LC4 and LC2 groups (P < 0.001).
• No significant difference in void volume was found between the LC2 and LC4 groups (P < 0.65).

Conclusions:

• Matched single cone-mediated ultrasonic activation (MSUA) is the most effective technique for reducing voids in root canal fillings.
• MSUA is a promising method for obturating round root canals.
• Lateral condensation techniques resulted in the highest percentage of voids among the tested methods.