Micro-CT evaluation of the presence of voids in endodontic obturation

Identifying the presence, size, type and location of voids in an endodontic obturation is of great clinical importance because it enables evaluation of the three-dimensionality of the sealing techniques, which can be related to the success of the endodontic treatment.

To analyze by micro-CT the presence of voids in lower single-rooted premolar root canal obturations prepared using the single cone and ultrasound vibration technique.

Twenty extracted single-rooted lower premolars were selected, and the root canal prepared surgically and chemically. In GROUP 1 - Without Vibration, the canal was obturated with a single cone and bioceramic, without applying vibration. In GROUP 2 - With Vibration, the gutta-percha cone inside the root canal was held with a cotton plier to which ultrasound vibration was applied for 3 periods of 3 seconds each. A micro-CT scanner was used to acquire and reconstruct images for analysis.

No significant difference was found between obturation techniques, though there were differences between thirds, with the cervical third having a higher percentage of voids than the middle and apical thirds.

The results suggest that the volume of closed, open and total voids does not differ between treatments with and without ultrasound vibration. In the cervical third, the highest volume of voids was related to oval geometry in the teeth evaluated.