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Percentage of gutta-percha, sealer, and voids in oval-shaped root canals obturated with four different techniques: A
H Rohini1, Josey Mathew1, Liza George1
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Annoor Dental College, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
Context:
Obturation techniques play a critical role in determining the three-dimensional quality of obturation, particularly by affecting gutta-percha content, sealer distribution, and void formation.
Aim:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the percentage of gutta-percha, bioceramic sealer, and voids in the apical third of a single-rooted tooth obturated with four different obturation techniques.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-two single-rooted mandibular premolars with moderate root curvature (10°-20°) were collected and decoronated at the cementoenamel junction to standardize root length to 12 mm. Cleaning and shaping were completed up to ProTaper Gold rotary file F2. BioRoot RCS sealer was mixed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and labeled with 0.1% rhodamine dye. The samples were then randomly allocated into four groups based on the obturation techniques used: Group 1 (G1) - lateral condensation technique, Group 2 (G2) - single cone technique, Group 3 (G3) - injectable gutta-percha technique, and Group 4 (G4) - continuous wave compaction technique. Samples were sectioned at the apical third (3 mm from the root apex) and imaged with confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Results:
Samples obturated with the lateral condensation technique exhibited a statistically significant higher percentage of gutta-percha-filled area compared to those obturated with the single cone and injectable gutta-percha techniques. Samples obturated in the single cone technique showed a statistically significant higher percentage of sealer-filled area (PSFA) in comparison to those obturated in the lateral condensation technique. Samples obturated with continuous wave compaction technique showed reduced percentage of voids; however, the difference was not statistically significant. All samples showed voids in the apical third, concluding that none of the techniques provided a complete void-free obturation.
Conclusion:
None of the obturation techniques provided a complete void-free obturation. Consistent adherence to standardized obturation procedures contributes significantly to favorable treatment outcomes.
