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Thermal Behaviour of Teeth With Internal Root Resorption During Obturation and Enhancing Thermal Simulations: A
Alper Kabakci1, Ayca Yilmaz2, Dilek Helvacioglu-Yigit3
1Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkiye; Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkiye.
International Dental Journal
|September 17, 2025
Summary
High heat during root canal filling, especially in large internal resorption cavities, can damage the periodontal ligament (PDL). Clinicians must consider cavity size and use heat-minimizing techniques to protect the PDL.
Area of Science:
- Endodontics
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Anatomy
Background:
- Internal root resorption (IRR) presents challenges in endodontic treatment.
- Thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturation techniques are widely used but may pose thermal risks.
- Understanding heat transfer to the periodontal ligament (PDL) is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate heat transfer to the PDL during thermoplasticized obturation of simulated teeth with internal root resorption (IRR) cavities of varying sizes.
- To determine if heat transfer exceeds critical thresholds for PDL damage under different obturation conditions.
Main Methods:
- Three-dimensional finite-element models of teeth with IRR cavities (3-4.5 mm diameter) were created.
- Simulations included vascularized and non-vascularized PDL models.
- Continuous wave compaction and backfill techniques were simulated with varying temperatures and angulations.
Main Results:
- PDL temperatures remained below 47°C during the downpack phase across all models.
- During backfill, PDL temperatures exceeded critical levels in models with 4 and 4.5 mm IRR cavities at 200°C.
- Vascularized PDL models consistently showed lower temperatures than non-vascularized models.
Conclusions:
- Backfilling with 200°C gutta-percha in large IRR cavities can significantly increase PDL temperature.
- Cavity size is a critical factor in thermal risk assessment during obturation.
- Minimizing heat generation during obturation is recommended for treating IRR cases to prevent PDL damage.
Keywords:
Continuous wave of compactionFinite element analysisInternal root resorptionTemperatureThermoplasticized obturationMore Related Videos
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