EVALUATION OF ROOT CANAL OBTURATION RESULTS WITH THE CANAL SHAPING SYSTEM WAVE ONE AND GUTTA THERMAFIL

Objective: To evaluate the results of root canal obturation with Wave One (WO) canal shaping system and Gutta Thermafil obturation system. Design: Nonrandomized prospective experimental trial between December 2020 and March 2021. Setting: Central Military Hospital 108. Subject: 30 lower incisors extracted teeth without stem rupture, without root damage such as fracture, stray, fissure. Results: The number of slices with the biggest gaps accounting for 16.7%. The number of slices with the smallest gaps accounting for 10%. The number of slices with gaps over the total slices accounted for 14.4%. The void area in the apical slice was 1,413 ± 519.5 µm2 and the largest void area was 38,654.2 ± 3,939.8 µm2. Conclusion: Thermafil Gutta Percha has a good fit to the canal wall, which can seal the canal more easily and accurately.

Root Canal Filling Quality Comparison of a Premixed Calcium Silicate Endodontic Sealer and Different Carrier-Based Obturation Systems

Background: The number of voids within the root canal obturation is a relevant parameter to describe the quality of the technique, as well as to predict long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of root canal obturation in curved root canals filled with Thermafil, GuttaCore, GuttaFusion and lateral compaction with AH Plus and EndoSequence BC sealer, by means of percentage of gutta-percha and sealer filled area. Methods: 200 curved canals of mandibular molars were divided in five groups (n = 40). Each specimen was evaluated at 3, 6 and 9 mm from the apex. A total of 600 samples were analyzed. Obturation was performed with either Thermafil (TH), GuttaCore (GC), GuttaFusion (GF) or lateral compaction (LC), using AH Plus as sealer. In another group EndoSequence BC sealer (BC) was used. Subgroups (n = 20) were made depending on the use of sonic activation during the placement of the sealer. The percentage of total obturation material was analyzed as an indirect measurement of percentage of voids. Results: GF showed a better performance at the apical level, while GC showed the higher percentage of total obturation at the coronal area. No differences were observed for the activation of sealers in any of the groups. Statistical analysis was performed by using two-way ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at CI: 95% (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sonic activation of sealers did not show any benefit to avoid the presence of voids within obturation of curved canals. Following the manufacturer recommendations, we found that TH did not show benefits when applied to curved canals.

Micro-CT Evaluation of Four Root Canal Obturation Techniques

Purpose. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the quality of four root canal obturation techniques using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Materials and Methods. A total of 36 mandibular first premolars with mostly round canals were decoronated, then instrumented up to a size F3 rotary file, and dressed with an epoxy resin-based sealer. Subsequently, they were divided into 4 different groups ( n = 9 ) based on the method of obturation: lateral condensation using 0.02 tapered master cone (LC2), lateral condensation using 0.04 tapered master cone (LC4), matched single-cone technique (MS), and matched single cone-mediated ultrasonic activation (MSUA). All the teeth were scanned using micro-CT (resolution of 19 μm), and the percentage volume of voids was calculated. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey test were used to analyze the data ( α = 0.05 ). Results. The total percentage volume of voids was significantly lower in the MSUA group compared to all other groups ( P < 0.05 ). The total percentage volume of voids was significantly lower in the MS group compared to the LC4 ( P < 0.001 ) and LC2 ( P < 0.001 ) groups. However, there was no significant difference between the LC2 and LC4 groups ( P < 0.65 ). Conclusions. MSUA, significantly, showed the least root canal filling voids amongst all the obturation techniques studied. MSUA can be considered an effective method for the filling of the round root canals. In general, lateral condensation using either 0.02 or 0.04 tapered master cones had significantly the highest volume percentage of voids amongst the experimental groups.

Flowable Urethane Dimethacrylate-Based Filler for Root Canal Obturation in Primary Molars: A Pilot SEM and microCT Assessment

Pulpectomy in deciduous teeth involves endodontic access opening, root canal debridement and obturation with an appropriate filling material. EndoREZ (ER) is the urethane dimethacrylate-based filler, which can be used for root canal obturation in permanent and primary teeth. This observation aimed to evaluate the behavior of the ER as a filler in root canals of two primary molars after the physiological resorption process using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (µCT) in second lower molars after their natural exfoliation. The SEM analysis revealed a non-uniform, porous and lacunary structure of ER, visually similar to the resorbed surface of the dentine. The µCT observations demonstrated the differences in the resorption level of the root and material surfaces. The preliminary observations suggest that ER is resorbed faster than root tissues and can therefore be a suitable material for the root canal filling in primary teeth. However, more investigations are needed to support these preliminary findings.