An Evaluation of Gutta-Percha Penetration Depth into Simulated Lateral Canals by Using Three Different Obturation Techniques (A Comparative Study)

Abstract

Background:sThe aims of this study were to evaluate and compare the ability of three different techniques toobdurate simulated lateral canals, evaluate the effect of the main canal curvature on obturation of lateral canalsand compare the gutta-percha penetration between coronal and apical lateral canals.Materials and methods: Resin blocks with 30 straight and 30 curved were used in this study. Each canal has twoparallel lateral canals. The main canal has 0.3 mm apical diameter and 0.04 taper. The canals were divided into sixgroups according to canal curvature and obturation techniques used (n=10): Groups C1 and C2: straight andcurved canals obturated with continuous wave technique using E&Q masterTM system. Groups O1 and O2: straightand curved canals obturated with Obtura II. Groups T1 and T2: straight and curved canals obturated with Thermafilobturators. Soapy water was used to simulate sealer in all obturations performed. The depth of gutta-perchapenetration into lateral canals was measured using computerized stereomicroscope.Results: There were very highly significant differences between the obturation techniques at each lateral canal levelin both straight and curved canals. Continuous wave using E&Q masterTM system exhibited the greatest guttaperchapenetration into lateral canals with very highly significant difference from both other techniques at majorityof lateral canals. There was non- significant difference between Thermafil and Obtura II except at coronal lateralcanal of straight main canals where the difference was very highly significant.The gutta-percha depth was greater in coronal than apical lateral canals in all groups of both straight and curvedcanals, and gutta-percha depth was greater in straight than in curved canals within each obturation technique.Conclusion: This study showed that all the three obturation techniques used were able to obturate simulated lateralcanals with the continuous wave technique being the best. Gutta-percha depth was less in the apical than thecoronal lateral canals. Canal curvature can influence the gutta-percha depth