An evaluation of the sealing ability of different obturation and gutta-percha removal techniques : a comparative study

Abstract EN

Background : removing gutta-percha (GP) during post space preparation is common in dental practice.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of using two types of rotary instruments (peeso reamers and Core-Remover) for GP removal on the apical sealing ability of GP in three obturation techniques (lateral condensation, thermafil, and softcore) using dye penetration method.

Materials and method : Sixty palatal roots of freshly extracted human maxillary first molars were sectioned and prepared with ProTaper manual system in crown-down manner to size F4..

Samples divided randomly into 3 groups (20 roots each) according to the method of obturation ; group A : Lateral condensation, group B: Soft-Core and group C : Thermafil.

All samples received GP removal after 7 days incubation (37˚C and 100 % humidity) either using Peeso reamer (groups A1, B1 and C1) or Core Remover (groups A2, B2 and C2) (10 roots each group).

The samples were sealed coronally, immersed in Indian ink and incubated for a week.

Roots were demineralized with a 5 % nitric acid solution, cleared in methyl salicylate and examined using a stereomicroscope under 40X magnification with calibrated grid to establish the degree of apical dye penetration in millimeters.

Results : data were collected and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (ANOVA and t-test) and there was no significant difference between using peeso reamer and core remover.

Conclusion : Apical sealing ability of remaining GP is less affected by the technique of GP removal.