Comparison of the apical sealing ability of gutta-percha by three different obturation techniques: Lateral Condensation technique, Single cone root canal obturation technique and Injectable thermoplasticized gutta-percha technique (System B)

Abstract

Aims & objectives: Comparing the apical sealing ability of gutta-percha by three different obturation techniques: Lateral Condensation technique, Single cone root canal obturation technique and Injectable thermoplasticized gutta-percha technique (System B).

Materials & methods:75 freshly extracted single rooted teeth were collected from the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Baddi, and cleaned under running tap water, disinfected using 5.25% NaOCl and stored in normal saline before use. All the specimens were randomly divided into three groups and access cavities were prepared using diamond burs with air rotor handpiece. After pulp tissue removal from pulp chamber, # 15 K- file were introduced into canal until it was seen at the tip of apical foramen. The size and flaring of the coronal preparation was dictated by the diameter of injection needle of System B system. The Zinc Oxide Eugenol sealer was used in this study. Instrumented single rooted teeth were randomly assigned one of the three groups. These three groups include: Group A – 25 single rooted teeth were obturated with Lateral condensation, Group B – 25 single rooted teeth were obturated with Single cone technique, and Group C – 25 single rooted teeth were obturated with System B technique. The teeth remained submerged in the dye for additional 48 hrs at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. The extent of dye penetration in the specimens for each group will be tabulated and a Statistical analysis was performed.

Results: Mean microleakage among specimens of group 1, group 2 and group 3 was 0.26 mm, 0.29 mm and 0.33 mm respectively. While comparing the mean microleakage in between the three study groups, non-significant results were obtained.

Conclusion: Lateral condensation obturation technique, Single cone obturation technique and Injectable thermoplasticized gutta- percha obturation technique (System B) are equally effective as root canal obturation materials for preventing apical microleakage. Nevertheless, further clinical studies are necessary to confirm these results and evaluate their relevance to the treatment outcome.