A Comparison of Three Gutta-Percha Obturation Techniques to Replicate Canal Irregularities

Collins, Jake BS, MS
Walker, Mary P. DDS, PhD
Kulild, James DDS, MS
Lee, Charles DDS

^*Department of Endodontics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry, Kansas City, Missouri
^†Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry, Kansas City, Missouri

Address requests for reprints to Dr. Mary P. Walker, UMKC School of Dentistry, 650 E 25th St., Kansas City, MO 64108 E-mail address: [email protected].

Journal of Endodontics 32(8):p 762-765, August 2006.

A split-tooth model with artificially created intracanal wall defects was used to compare three gutta-percha (GP) obturation techniques, cold lateral, warm lateral, and warm vertical. The techniques were evaluated and compared based on defect replication quality as a function of defect location and size. The obturations were evaluated on an ordinal scale, 0 to 4, based on how much each defect was replicated. There was a statistically significantly better result with both warm techniques compared to cold lateral obturation, while there was no significant difference between the warm obturation techniques.