Physicomechanical Properties of Tertiary Monoblock in Endodontics: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the physicomechanical properties of tertiary monoblock obturation with different obturation techniques.

PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, LILACS, IBECS, and BBO were searched time. PICO question was: "In extracted human teeth (Population), does tertiary monoblock obturation (Intervention) have superior physicomechanical properties (Outcome) compared to conventional obturation systems (Comparison)?". Statistical analyses for push-out bond strength were performed with RevMan software by comparing the mean differences of each study, with a 95% confidence interval. Inverse variance was used as statistical method, random-effects models as analysis model, and heterogeneity between studies was assessed by Cochran's Q test and I² statistic (P <0.05).

Of 2162 studies retrieved, 31 were included in this review for "Study Characteristics". Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Analysis demonstrated that conventional obturation had significantly higher push-out bond strength than tertiary monoblock obturation (P <0 .01), with a mean difference of -1.00 (95% CI, -1.41 to -0.58; I²=100%). Subgroups using single-cone and cold lateral condensation techniques showed significantly lower push-out bond strength for tertiary monoblock obturation (P <0.01), respectively with a mean difference of -0.09 (95% CI, -1.13 to -0.67; I²=97%) and of -1.97 (95% CI, -3.19 to -0.75; I²=100%). The warm vertical compaction subgroup showed no statistically significant difference between tertiary monoblock and conventional systems (P =0.13), with a mean difference of 0.49 (95% CI, -0.14 to 1.12; I²=10%).

Tertiary monoblock systems have a push-out bond strength similar to conventional systems when used with warm vertical compaction.