Research ArticleOpen Access

The Impact of Heat and Vibration on the Density of Root Filings Produced by Lateral Compaction: A Comparative Study on Artificial Blocks and Natural Teeth

Volume 2 - Issue 5

**I Abramovitz¹, T Prokocimer¹, Z Metzger², D Moreinos¹, J Moshonov¹ and ETR Farmakis*³**

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- ¹Department of Endodontics, The Hebrew University, Israel
- ²Department of Endodontology, Tel Aviv University, Israel
- ³Department of Endodontics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
*Corresponding author: Eleftherios Terry R Farmakis, Department of Endodontics, University of Athens, Greece

Received: February 24, 2018; Published: March 05, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.02.000819

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Abstract

Background: Cold lateral condensation due to its simplicity and the high control it offers over the apical gutta-percha placement is among the most popular and widely used methods of root canal filling. One of the main limitations of this technique is that it allows gaps to form, often resulting in a high percentage of sealer along and between the cones, especially in the apical area.

Objective: To evaluate gutta-percha obturations density produced by cold, warm and vibrating-warm lateral compaction techniques in artificial and natural root canals

Methods: Forty acrylic blocks and 40 single-rooted extracted teeth were instrumented using ProTaper® rotary files up to F3. The canals were laterally compacted with gutta-percha, weighed and subjected to warm lateral compaction followed by vibrating-warm lateral compaction. The teeth and blocks were re-weighed following each phase. The added gutta-percha in each phase was compared with the control (cold lateral compaction). The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and the Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Warm lateral compaction increased the density of gutta-percha compared to with cold lateral compaction in blocks and root canals by 23.5% and 25%, respectively (p < 0.001). Warm and vibrating compaction further increased the gutta-percha’s density by 33% and 53%, respectively (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Warm lateral compaction combined with the vibrating-warm techniques enhanced the density of gutta-percha filling of root canals, compared with cold lateral compaction alone. The added vibration was more beneficial in root canals of natural teeth than in artificial canals of training blocks.

Keywords: Endodontics; Root canal obturation; Gutta-percha; Lateral condensation; Warm Gutta Percha